DUSHANBE, November 25, 2015, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan needs to diversify and upgrade its production and export baskets, and increase its focus on skills development, knowledge and technology to sustain economic growth and reduce its vulnerability to external shocks, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.
The report lays out ADB’s program for knowledge support for Tajikistan, to help drive the economy forward, and to supplement investments in infrastructure.
“ADB has adopted the so-called Finance++ approach under which it supplements its own financing with additional resources from other partners to maximize and accelerate development effectiveness,” said C.C. Yu, ADB’s Country Director for Tajikistan. “ADB also puts a strong focus on knowledge development to help member countries move towards sustainable and inclusive growth.”
The focus of ADB’s knowledge work in Tajikistan will be on promoting productive employment—including through public–private partnerships and vocational training, and diversifying the economy. Knowledge support will also be given for continued infrastructure improvements, especially in transport and energy, and for measures to strengthen food security and increase resilience to climate change.
ADB will partner with government agencies, local think tanks, academic institutions, development partners, and other stakeholders to produce knowledge that best reflects local realities and meets the country’s needs.
ADB is targeting over $9 million in knowledge support for Tajikistan from 2016–2018, mainly through technical assistance grants. ADB-assisted investment projects will also have knowledge components. Apart from country-specific assistance, Tajikistan will also benefit from regional knowledge products and services delivered by various ADB departments, the ADB Institute, and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program.
Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998 and to date, ADB has approved over $1.3 billion in concessional loans, grants, and technical assistance for the country. The ADB-Tajikistan partnership has promoted social development, upgraded and built new infrastructure, expanded agricultural production, developed the microfinance market, and encouraged regional cooperation and trade under the CAREC Program.
