DUSHANBE, July 25, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan”s foreign debt has grown by $20.48 million 8rose since the beginning of the year and estimated, as of July 1, at $886.83 million, or 28.24 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on July 25.
The minister attributed the debt increase to assimilation of loans received from international financial institutions.
Over the report period, totaling 187.5 million somonis have been invested in joint investment projects, according to the minister. The totaled included 103.8 million somonis in loans, 36.9 million somonis in grants and 46.6 million somonis contribution of the Tajik government.
“Of this amount, 24.5 million somonis have gone to enhancing the education sector, 6 million somonis have been spent on the health sector, 2.3 million somonis on social security of the population, 39.2 million somonis on transport, 46 million on the agrarian sector, and 7.5 million somonis on housing-communal economy,” Najmuddinov said.
Asked abut financial resources of completing the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS), the minister said that funds will be attracted both from the budget, domestic companies, large energy-consumers and other countries that expressed wish to participate in the implementation of the Roghun hydroelectricity project.
“The World Bank acts as coordinator,” said Najmuddinov, “Experts have already been determined and technical assistance has been provided.”
