DUSHANBE, September 20, 2012, Asia-Plus — The Government of Japan is currently considering the possibility of financing a number of transportation projects in Tajikistan.
This issue was reportedly discussed at a meeting of Mr. Nizom Hakim, Minister of Transport of Tajikistan with Ms. Kae Yanagisawa, Director, East, Central Asia, and the Caucasus Division, Regional Department II, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
An official source at the Ministry of Transport (MoT) says the Japanese side is currently considering the issue of financing rehabilitation of bridges in the city of Kulob and the project for providing Tajikistan with road maintenance equipment.
The ministry has submitted a number of projects for consideration to the Japanese side. Among them are projects for construction of the rail link connecting Tajik settlements of Kolkhozobod, Dusti, and Panji Poyon with the Afghan city of Kunduz, rehabilitation of the road Guliston-Farkhor-Panj-Dusti, rehabilitation of the road Kulob-Khovling, rehabilitation of the road connecting Baljuvon, Sari Khosor and Guldara, and construction of the road connecting Labi Jar, Tavildara and Qalai Khumb.
The sides also discussed the progress of work on reconstruction of the roads from Dusti to Panji Poyon and from Qurghon Teppa to Dusti, as well as rehabilitation of rural roads in Khatlon province and construction of bridges across the Surkhob and Yangolik rivers, the source said.
Besides, Tajik minister and JICA official reportedly considered the possibility of training of specialists for Tajik transportation sphere in Japan.
To-date, Japan has reportedly provided 80 million U.S. dollars for enhancement of Tajikistan’s transportation sector.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.
JICA was established by the Law concerning the Independent Administrative Institution Japan International Cooperation Agency. The current organization was formed on October 1, 2003 as outlined in the International Cooperation (Independent Governmental) Agency Act of 2002. Its predecessor, the (Japan) International Cooperation Agency (also known as “JICA”), was a semi-governmental organization under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, formed in 1974.
A major component of the comprehensive overhaul of Japan”s ODA that the Japanese government (Diet) had decided on in November, 2006 is the merger in 2008 between JICA and that part of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which currently extends concessional loans to developing countries.
Since its completion on October 1, 2008, “New JICA” has become one of the largest bilateral development organizations in the world with a network of 97 overseas offices, projects in more than 150 countries, and available financial resources of approximately 8.5 billion U.S. dollars.
The reorganized agency is also responsible for administering part of Japan”s grant aid which is currently under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and so all three major ODA components—technical cooperation, grant aid, and concessional loans—are now managed “under one roof.”
