DUSHANBE, October 14, 2015, Asia-Plus – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is reportedly expected to increase investments in Tajikistan.
During a meeting with Mr. Jamoliddin Nouraliyev, First Deputy Head of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), in Dushanbe, Mr. Masura Honma, Director for Central Asia and Mongolia at EBRD, reportedly said on October 13 that EBRD plans to invest about 200 million U.S. dollars in Tajikistan this year.
According to him, EBRD is ready to establish bilateral cooperation with all Tajik banks for the purpose of supporting them.
Mr. Honma noted that the EBRD delegation would arrive in Tajikistan next month to discuss issues of providing technical support and loans to Tajikistan’s banking sector.
According to the NBT press center, the two sides discussed a number of issues related to enhancement of Tajikistan’s financial sector, including the current problems and existing opportunities.
They also discussed Tajik central bank’s strategy for development of the country’s banking sector, the source said.
Richard Jones, Head of the EBRD Resident Office in Dushanbe, also attended the meeting.
We will recall that EBRD approved a new country strategy which will guide its work in Tajikistan in the next four years in July this year.
The Bank’s main priorities in the country will be: enabling economic growth by supporting expansion of private enterprise, notably small and medium-sized enterprises, and helping improve the business environment; improving public utility services, as well as their operational and financial efficiency, through commercialization and corporatization; and fostering regional connectivity and economic integration.
Across all its activities, the EBRD will promote climate resilience and gender equality.
In 2014, EBRD reportedly increased investments in Tajikistan to a record US$ 75 million. This year, the Bank expects to invest about US$ 200 million thanks to some high-profile projects of regional importance, including the modernization of Tajikistan’s electricity transmission infrastructure. Since the beginning of its operations in the country in 1992, the EBRD has invested over US$ 460 million in various sectors of Tajikistan’s economy.
