DUSHANBE, Febraury 6, 2009, Asia-Plus — On Friday February 6, President Emomali Rahmon held talks with visiting head of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) mission to Tajikistan, Mr. Axel Schimmelpfennig, to discuss state of cooperation between Tajikistan and the Fund, according to presidential press service.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Schimmelpfennig noted that the 2008 Staff Monitored Program (SMP) showed that the country’s economic results were good. The press service cited the IMF mission head as saying that audit of activities of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) had been conducted successfully and there were no any obstacles now on the way of expansion of cooperation between the Fund and the country.
President Rahmon was also informed that the IMF has started preparation of a new program for poverty reduction and economic growth in Tajikistan.
During the meeting , it was noted that the new program would focus on measures to mitigate effects of the global financial crisis on Tajikistan’s economy the press service said.
The mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Tajikistan, led by Mr. Axel Schimmelpfennig arrived in Dushanbe on February 5 for a two-week visit. According to Tajik central bank, the mission is assessing implementation of the IMF monitoring program that was finished in December 2008. The mission will help the government and central bank work out an appropriate macroeconomic policy dedicated to respond to effects of the global crisis on Tajikistan and discuss the new IMF program with Tajik officials, the source said.
