DUSHANBE, February 3, 2010, Asia-Plus — The Government of Tajikistan considered and endorsed the draft poverty reduction strategy for 2010-2012 on February 1, Anvar Najmiddinov, head of the economic reforms and investments department within President’s Executive Office, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, the document has already been sent for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).
The source at the Ministry of Economic development and Trade, which had worked out a new three-year poverty reduction strategy, said that the document was aimed at promoting improvement of public management in Tajikistan, supporting development of private sector and improvement of investment climate in the country as well as supporting personnel resources in all sectors.
5.3 billion U.S. dollars are expected to be spent for implementation of the poverty reduction strategy for 2010-2012, the source said, noting that at present the strategy budget deficit was 50 percent. “We have to find another 2.650 billion U.S. dollars for implementation of this program. The main finance source for the strategy is the country’s budget. Besides, the budget for implementation of the strategy also includes funds of investment projects as well as programs implemented in the country by international organizations.”
The poverty rate was reduced from 72.4 percent in 2003 to 53 percent in 2007 and to 50 percent in 2009 and under the new poverty reduction strategy the poverty rate in Tajikistan is expected to decrease to 40 percent by 2012.
The source added that the government also planned to work out the poverty reduction strategy for 2013-2015, under which the poverty rate would decrease in the country to 32 percent by 20105.
