On February 28, 2024, Tajik Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mr. Zavqi Zavqizoda, met in Abu Dhabi with the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Mr. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, on the margins of the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) that took place there on February 26-29.
The press center of the Ministry of economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) says the two discussed state and prospects of further expansion of collaboration between the Fund and Tajikistan.
They reportedly expressed readiness for further expansion of bilateral trade an economic cooperation.
During the meeting, Tajik minister invited the ADFD to invest in the implementation of the Roghun hydropower project (HPP) in Tajikistan.
The proposal was reportedly well received by ADFD top manager reportedly.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) is a foreign aid agency established by the government of Abu Dhabi in 1971. The Fund provides concessionary loans to fund economic and social development projects. It also invests in order to expand and strengthen the private sector economies of its clients.
The ADFD works with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to promote the rapid and widespread adoption of renewable energy.
Recall, the first two generating units of the Roghun hydropower plant were introduced into operation in November 2018 and September 2019 to much clamor, but there has been limited progress since then. The third unit is expected to be introduced into operation in 2025.
Once completed, Roghun will be fitted with six 600 megawatt turbines, amounting to a total installed capacity of 3,600 megawatts. Eurasianet notes that as Milan-based WeBuild (formerly Salini Impregilo), which has been contracted to implement the project, has claimed on its website, that is “the equivalent of three nuclear power plants.”
