KHOROG, January 27, 2009, Asia-Plus — In 2008, banks in Gorno Badakhshan provided more than 81 million somoni (TJS) in loans to local legal and physical entities, which was 17.5 million somoni more than in 2007, Asia-Plus ahs learned at the GBAO finance directorate.
25.1 million somoni, or 31 percent of the total amount of loans, were provided to support enhancement of the agrarian sector.
In 2008, the largest money-lenders in the region were the branches of the First MicroFinance Bank of Tajikistan (FMFB-T) and Agroinvestbonk in Khorog. “The branch of FMFB-T alone provided 19.7 million somoni in loans to local small businesses last year and Agroinvestbonk’s branch provided 10.7 million somoni in loans in 2008,” the source at the finance directorate said.
As of January 1, 2009, 60.6 million somoni of loans provided in 2008 and the previous years have been repaid.
