DUSHANBE, July 9, Asia-Plus — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans a US$192.1 million loan and grant program for Tajikistan in the next three years to help develop the country”s rural infrastructure, promote regional cooperation, and implement policy reforms in the agriculture, energy, transport and social sectors, according to the Tajikistan Country Operations Business Plan (COBP) for 2007-2009 recently endorsed by the ADB.
According to ADB Dushanbe Office, the assistance level for 2007 is expected to be around $74.1 million. This would be followed by anticipated assistance levels of about $63 million and $55 million in 2008 and in 2009, respectively. However, the final amounts will depend on the country’s performance and availability of ADB”s funds.
The proposed lending program for 2007 includes the Rural Development Project, PRC–Kyrgyz Republic–Tajikistan Regional Road Corridor Project, and the Khatlon Province Flood Management and Rehabilitation Project.
Complementing the loan and grant program will be a technical assistance program amounting to a total of $6.36 million for 2007-2008. Besides project preparation and capacity building, the technical assistance grants will support the implementation of the Government’s private sector development strategy, preparing the transport sector master plan, and carry out diagnostic studies on cotton taxation reform and marketing, and electricity regulation.
ADB Country Director for Tajikistan Neeraj K. Jain said the COBP is closely aligned with the Government’s development goals. “The COBP is a medium-term framework for managing cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and ADB to achieve national development and poverty reduction goals,” he said.
As of end March 2007, ADB’s cumulative assistance to Tajikistan consisted of 20 investment projects and programs for a total of $309.107 million; 53 technical assistance projects for a total amount of $30 million; and 5 JFPR grant projects amounting to $9.7 million.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2006, it approved loans and grants for projects totaling $8.5 billion, and technical assistance amounting to almost $242 million.
