DUSHANBE, October 21, 2008, Asia-Plus — 2008 – The Director for cooperation with Asia and Central Asia in the EuropAid Cooperation Office of the European Commission, Mr. Dirk Meganck, is leading an identification mission to develop priorities for enhanced EC cooperation with Tajikistan, in the framework of the EU Strategy towards Central Asia adopted last year to boost ties with the region.
On October 20, he discussed current and future EC cooperation with senior members of the Government of Tajikistan, including the State Advisor to the President for Economic Affairs, Mr. Matlubkhon Davlatov, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mr. Ghulomjon Bobozoda, the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Mr. Shukurjon Zuhurov, the Minister of Health, Mr. Nusratullo Salimov, and the Chairman of the State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management, Mr. Farrukh Hamraliyev.
According to the EC Dushanbe Office, the goal of the visit is the programming of €43 million Euro of bilateral assistance to Tajikistan for 2009-2010, in the framework of the EC Regional Strategy Paper for the period 2007-2013. Tajikistan gets the lion”s share of bilateral assistance (30% or €66 million Euro for 2007-2010). The EC has already allocated €23 million for bilateral assistance in 2007-2008, mainly for Social Protection, Health, Public Finance Management (PFM) and poverty reduction programs. Bilateral assistance for 2009-2010 will concentrate on two sectors where the EC has an added value: the Social Sectors, including Social Protection and Health, and Private Sector Development.
Continued EC assistance in these areas is conditional on a sound macro-economic situation in the country and clear progress on Public Finance Management – which is of key importance – namely with regard to the IMF recommendations. It is therefore crucial for the Government of Tajikistan to continue implementing political and structural economic reforms. The EC will take into account the difficult situation in the country, within the boundaries of its rules underlying budget support, but stresses the importance of sound Public Finance Management.
At its meeting with the Government, the mission led by Mr. Dirk Meganck also reviewed progress on the IMF Staff Monitored Program, and examined the energy and food security situation (after last winter”s crisis and the global food price rise), assuring future EC support as necessary.
