DUSHANBE, July 15, 2011, Asia-Plus — Mr. Olivier Descamps, Managing Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Turkey, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, has arrived in Tajikistan on a three-day visit.
The EBRD Dushanbe Resident Office says during his stay in Dushanbe, Mr. Descamps will hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon to discuss state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between the Bank and Tajikistan.
The two are expected to discuss the current economic situation of the country, opportunities to expand the Bank’s operations in Tajikistan as well as further provision of financial means to the country.
Mr. Descamps is also scheduled to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Murodali Alimardon, Economic Development and Trade Minister Farrukh Hamraliyev and Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) Sharif Rahimzoda.
Today afternoon, Mr. Descamps will attend a ceremony of signing of an agreement on provision by the EBRD of credit line to Access Bank, the source said.
Besides, a press briefing on the EBRD senior delegation’s visit to Tajikistan will take place at Access Bank premises. During the press briefing the participants will learn about the EBRD’s new Local Currency Lending Program in Early Transition Countries (ETC). Tajikistan is the first country to benefit from this new Program in Central Asia.
Tajik Accessbank becomes the second financial institution in Tajikistan which joined the program.
The new program allows the EBRD to support private sector development in the countries of its operations by extending local currency-denominated loans to eligible banks, microfinance organisations and private enterprises, which will avoid taking on exchange rate risks.
