DUSHANBE, April 17, 2009, Asia-Plus — An April 16 cabinet meeting, presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, considered issues related to working out the plan of actions for implementation of tasks determined in this year’s address of the head of state to parliament, according to presidential press service.
The meeting participants included senior representatives from president’s office, heads of ministries and organizations. Relevant officials were charged to work out the plan within ten days and submit it for consideration to the government.
During the meeting, a special attention was given to the energy-saving measures, including the possibility of nationwide switch to energy saving light bulbs. The president ordered that 241,000 vulnerable families in the country should be provided with the energy-saving bulbs at the expense of state funds.
The Committee for TV and Radio-broadcasting is to prepare programs to explain benefit of the energy-saving light bulbs for the population.
The process of shifting to the energy-saving bulbs should be completed in the country by October 1 this year, the press service said.
The meeting also considered issues related to implementation of president’s instruction on reducing rates of some taxes, increasing amounts of bank loans provided to entrepreneurs, extending the government credit repayment period for cotton farmers and reducing cotton loan interest rates.
The president also demanded at the meeting that construction of new hydropower plants and heat and power stations as well as rehabilitation of energy facilities, including the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS) should be speeded up. He also pointed to the necessity of accelerating exploration and development of natural-gas deposits and implementation of investment projects in the country.
