DUSHANBE, January 20, 2009, Asia-Plus – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the expansion of the Tajik PET producer Alfapet with a $3.2 million-loan, press release posted on EBRD’s website said.
With a newly-acquired second pre-forms production line Alfapet is well placed to serve growing market demand. The company offers complete PET packaging solutions of international quality standards which are sold to domestic and foreign clients.
The increase in demand for PET packaging in Tajikistan has been triggered by the strong growth in the non-alcoholic beverage sector in the country. The consumption of bottled water and soft drinks in Tajikistan is far below international levels: The per capita consumption in the country in 2006 was 17 l per capita compared to 25 l in Uzbekistan, 60 l in Russia and 300 l in Western Europe.
At the same time PET products are rapidly replacing cans and cartons as drink containers. PET packaging requires little investment as opposed to cans and is cheaper than glass.
Gilles Mettetal, EBRD Director for Agribusiness, said the Bank’s loan to Alfapet will not only support a strong local company but also the development of the whole beverages sector in the country.
“Strengthening domestic production facilities will also lessen dependence on imports”, he added.
In the agribusiness sector alone, the EBRD has directly committed more than €5.0 billion in over 330 projects across Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States since 1991.
