DUSHANBE, July 14, 2016, Asia-Plus – On Thursday July 14, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received Ms. Marian Sherman, acting Regional Director of the World Bank for Central Asia, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
They reportedly discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the World Bank.
Rahmon, in particular, noted that a visit of a high-ranking delegation of the World Bank to Tajikistan was an important step towards further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the Bank.
Tajik leader highly appraised the World Bank’s activities in Tajikistan.
It was noted that the beginning of implementation of the CASA 1000 Project was an example of mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and the World Bank and President Rahmon expressed hope that implementation of energy project would be accelerated in Tajikistan with the help of the World bank.
Rahmon and Sherman also discussed feasibility study for rehabilitation of the Nurek hydroelectric power plant, finding of funds for the Nurek HPP rehabilitation project, and flood control embankment construction projects.
They also exchanged views on expansion of cooperation in reducing impact of external factors on Tajikistan’s economy under the conditions of aggravation of the global financial and economic crisis, and providing assistance to Tajikistan in mitigating effects of natural disasters.
Tajikistan joined the World Bank in 1993 and the International Development Association (IDA) in 1994. Since 1996, the World Bank has provided US$ 955 million in IDA credits, grants, and trust funds to improve people’s lives in Tajikistan.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries. Since 1997, IFC has invested US$ 81 million to support 32 private sector projects in the financial, hydropower, retail, tourism, and manufacturing sectors.
A new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Tajikistan outlines a World Bank Group program of support for the country over the period 2015-2018. The joint World Bank-IFC strategy sets out priority goals in the framework of cooperation between the World Bank Group and the Government of Tajikistan, which will further support efforts to reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity in the country.
The new CPS aims to increase the well-being of the people of Tajikistan by expanding economic opportunities for the private sector and for poor and vulnerable groups in society. The CPS prioritizes three main areas: 1) promote private sector led growth by improving the investment climate and strengthening competitiveness in key sectors to attract investment and create jobs; 2) promote social inclusion by increasing access to improved social and public services; and 3) enhance regional connectivity to increase the country’s access to regional markets and to global information and knowledge.
