DUSHANBE
, February 22, Asia-Plus — “
Tajikistan
will be central figure in our project in the region in future as well,” Mr. Craig Stephenson, head of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Department for Central Asian Regional Cooperation, remarked at a business lunch with media in
Dushanbe
yesterday.
On the goals and objectives of the ADB Department for Central Asian Regional Cooperation, Mr. Stephenson named enhancement of transport sector and road-building, irrigation and water supply, construction of power-transmission lines priorities and main directions of the Bank’s activity.
“In 2006-2008, the ADB will continue focusing on these sectors”, the ADB official said, adding that 16 projects for a total amount of US$943 million and 13 technical project for an amount of US$9 million are working in these sectors.
Mr. Neeraj Jain, head of the ADB Resident Mission in
Tajikistan
, noted that the ADB made considerable contribution to creation of transport corridors in the countries of the region. In 2000-2005, US$85 million were provided for projects in
Tajikistan
and US$16 million are planned to be provided for implementing projects in the republic in 2006-2008, according to him.
Asked about the possibility of restructuring or writing off Tajikistan’s debts, the ADB representative said that in 2005 alone, US$100,000 were provided to Tajikistan in a form of preferential loans carrying a 30-40-year term, but the Bank did not planned to write off Tajikistan’s debts. Mr. Jain noted that at present the ADB was working with the Ministry of State Revenues and Tax Collections on the issue of simplifying procedure of collections of local taxes and customs duties, as well as with the Ministry of Transportation on the road-building issues.
The ADB will fund the project aimed at the construction of the power-transmission line from
Tajikistan
to
Afghanistan
and intends to provide US$20 million for these purposes, the ADB Country Director in
Tajikistan
said, noting that it is only the first phase f the construction of the electric main that will be further extended to
Iran
and
Pakistan
.
