On Monday, June 12, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
In the course of the talks, the parties reportedly discussed the state and prospects of further expansion of the bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank.
The Tajik president’s official website says Rahmon expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between Tajikistan and the ADB during 25 years of partnership, including the financing by the Bank of 180 projects in various fields of Tajikistan’s economy in the amount of more than 2.5 billion US dollars.
For his part, Mr. Asakawa reportedly mentioned the significant opportunities of Tajikistan in the production and the export of clean and renewable energy and in this context the development of the "green economy."
The parties also exchanged views on the issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the Bank in continuing the implementation of reforms and economic transformation.
Besides, the parties discussed the development of Tajikistan’s energy sector and the climate change problems.
In connection with the difficult situation of today's world and the intensification of its consequences, it was considered necessary to take joint measures to prevent and reduce the impact of risks and negative factors on the country’s economy.
The parties also discussed a number of other topics being of mutual interest, the Tajik president’s official website added
During his two-day visit, Mr. Asakawa is also scheduled to hold talks with a number of other high-ranking Tajik state officials for consultations on Tajikistan’s development needs ADB assistance programs.
Besides, it is planned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the partnership between the ADB and Tajikistan and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the permanent ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM).
The ADB president will also review some programs of the Asian Development Bank in Tajikistan.
Mr. Asakawa Masatsugu (born 25 January 1958) is a Japanese civil servant. He was elected President by ADB’s Board of Governors and assumed office on January 17, 2020. Mr. Asakawa is the 10th president of ADB. He was formerly special adviser to Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan, and to Taro Aso, the deputy prime minister of Japan and minister of finance. He was also formerly the vice minister for international affairs in the Ministry of Finance in Japan.
The Asian Development Bank is the major multilateral development partner of Tajikistan. Since Tajikistan joined the Bank in 1998, the ADB has approved over 180 projects to Tajikistan for a total of US$2.5 billion, including over US$1.9 billion in grants. Transport accounts for 34% of our total assistance, energy – 24%, public sector management – 12%, agriculture – 11%, other sectors include health, education, finance, urban infrastructure.
ADB’s 2021–2025 country partnership strategy for Tajikistan focuses on three strategic priorities: structural reforms to enhance resource allocation and mobilization, improving labor productivity through human capital development, and fostering better livelihoods by investing in the land-linked economy.
Established in 1966, the Asian Development Bank is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
