On Wednesday December 20, President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, to discuss cooperation.
The Tajik president’s official website says the parties discussed the current state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the OPEC Fund.
Tajik leader reportedly emphasized that the beneficial cooperation of the country with the OPEC Fund has expanded and is aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the country.
During the meeting, the parties, in particular, discussed cooperation on implementing projects aimed at enhancing educational, healthcare, agrarian, transport, and energy sectors in Tajikistan.
It was emphasized that the increase in the production of "green energy" is a favorable basis for promoting the "green economy" in Tajikistan, and there are many opportunities for the expansion of cooperation in this area.
It was deemed necessary to increase the amount of funds for the implementation of important infrastructure projects of Tajikistan, including in the mentioned fields.
It was reportedly assured that in the framework of beneficial cooperation, other available opportunities will be used for the development and expansion of relations.
This year marks the 26th anniversary of OFID’s cooperation with Tajikistan. The majority of OFID’s support has gone toward the country’s transportation sector.
In 1997, OFID began supporting Tajikistan’s health sector. OFID, in particular, has helped equip the Danghara central hospital via two loans totaling US$8.15 million.
Established by the member nations of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1976, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) is an intergovernmental development finance institution. The OPEC Fund was conceived at the Conference of the Sovereigns and Heads of State of OPEC Member Countries, which was held in Algiers, Algeria, in March 1975. A Solemn Declaration of the Conference “reaffirmed the natural solidarity which unites OPEC countries with other developing countries in their struggle to overcome underdevelopment”, and called for measures to strengthen cooperation between these countries.
The OPEC Fund's objective is to reinforce financial cooperation between OPEC member nations and other developing countries, by providing financial support to the latter for their socioeconomic development. The institution's central mission is to foster South-South Partnership with fellow developing countries worldwide with the aim of eradicating poverty. OPEC Fund's headquarters are located in Vienna, Austria.
