On March 4, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon welcomed Mr. Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), during his first official visit to the country.
The Tajik president’s official website says President Rahmon congratulated Mr. Kanda on his election as ADB President and emphasized that his visit signified the Bank’s strong commitment to fostering long-term cooperation with Tajikistan.
During the meeting, both sides highlighted the significant contributions made by the ADB towards Tajikistan's socio-economic development goals. It was noted that the Bank has been one of Tajikistan's key partners, supporting over 200 projects totaling $2.9 billion.
The leaders also expressed satisfaction with the adoption of the new ADB-Tajikistan Partnership Strategy for 2026-2030, which aligns with Tajikistan’s national priorities, including energy development, transportation, digitalization, climate change adaptation, and strengthening both the social and private sectors.
A special focus was placed on priority investment projects, with President Rahmon thanking the ADB for its support to the state budget and its contributions to advancing the "green" economy.
The conversation also addressed expanding cooperation in areas such as education, addressing climate change impacts, and glacier protection. Both parties acknowledged the need for additional financing and continued structural reforms to enhance human capital development and regional ecological security.
In conclusion, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the long-term partnership between Tajikistan and the ADB, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would further boost bilateral cooperation, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
Meanwhile, the ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM) reports that Mr. Kanda said during the meeting that ADB “is planning around $1.1 billion in support over 2026–2028 to strengthen infrastructure, improve competitiveness, and make social services better and easier for everyone to use.”
“We will continue supporting the government’s efforts to build a dynamic private sector that creates jobs, sparks innovation, and supports resilient growth,” ADB President noted.
Mr. Kanda reportedly also reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to a strong partnership with Tajikistan during his meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister and ADB Governor Hokim Kholiqzoda.
