On March 11, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Tajikistan Office held “JICA Press Briefing 2020” at Dushanbe Serena Hotel, by inviting a wide range of journalists and mass media, in order to interactively disseminate information on JICA`s activities in 2019 and outline future interventions and new projects.
At the beginning of the event, Mr. Hideki Tanabe, Chief Representative congratulated the audience with the Day of Press (mass media) with their 108 years anniversary and wished all the best in their future activities, according to JICA Tajikistan Office.
In his presentation, Mr. Tanabe mentioned about the development challenges highlighted by the Government of Tajikistan in National Development Strategy 2030 and cooperation strategy by the Government of Japan and JICA to support Tajikistan. Based on the consultations with key Tajik stakeholders, JICA intends to focus on transport, health, energy stability and business promotion in the following years as those sectors are recognized by JICA as vital for the country development.
Following that, the participants were briefed on JICA completed projects in 2019, which were focused mainly on improvements of health, agriculture and energy sectors. It was emphasized that the new JICA Cooperation Strategy for Tajikistan to 2023 pays a special attention to create employment opportunities and, therefore, Mr. Tanabe informed about new project on Business Incubation to be launched in April 2020 and implemented jointly with the State Committee on Investment and Sate-owned Property Management of Tajikistan. The project reportedly aims to support efforts of the Tajik Government on private sector development and job opportunities creation through facilitating conducive business environment and building business skills of target groups (startups, small and medium enterprises, youth, women and returned migrants).
During Q&A session, journalists took active participation and questions related to the project implementation cycle in JICA, gender equality and future possible cooperation with mass media representatives were asked by them.
JICA began its technical cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by inviting Tajik officials to gain knowledge and experience on governance and macroeconomics development. As of January 2018, a total number of participants to JICA’s Knowledge Co-Creation Programs, formerly called the Training Programs, has exceeded 2200 people. JICA Office was established in 2006 in Tajikistan and since then various Grant Financial Assistance and Technical Cooperation projects have been implemented more dynamically, aiming at improving living standard of Tajik people for the sectors such as agriculture and rural development, water supply, health, transport, energy, capacity building as well as SME promotion. JICA’s cumulative investment portfolio in Tajikistan in all sectors comprises 40 projects amounting to more than 400.4 million USD (83.7 million USD for Technical Cooperation and 316.7 million USD for Grant Assistance), including 15 ongoing projects.
