DUSHANBE, October 31, 2008, Asia-Plus — The Government of Tajikistan (GoT), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and some Arab development funds are expected to sing a loan agreement for 130 million US dollars in January or February 2009, Asia-Plus has learned from Ismonqul Shoqulov, executive director of the Shagon-Zighar road construction project implementation unit (PIU).
According to him, the amount of this loan will be allocated for co-financing the rehabilitation of the road Kulob-Qalai Khumb.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on construction of that road was signed in Dushanbe on October 22. The document was inked by Economic Development and Trade Ghulomjon Bobozoda and heads of delegations of IDB, Saudi Development Fund, Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development, OPEC Fund, and the Abu Dhabi Fund, Shoqulov said.
“Having familiarized with the project, the sides came to a conclusion that US$130 million are needed for rehabilitation of the road and the mentioned financial institutions will provide this amount,” he added.
“The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has provided a grant of US$1 million for conducting feasibility study for the project,” said Shoqulov, “Kuwaiti Abu Hadi and Lebanese Spectrum are conducting the feasibility study.”
The Kulob-Qalai Khumb road is 100 kilometers in length and the project also includes construction of three bridges near the areas of Khirmanjo, Kisht, and Oni Niyob, the executive director said. The project will be finished in three years.
