On March 12, Mr. Ashourboy Solehzoda, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, Mr. Raimundas Karoblic, Head of Delegation and Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union (UN) to Tajikistan, and Ms. Sarah Rinaldi, Head of Unit for the Middle East & Central Asia in the European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships, co-chaired the 4th European Union – Tajikistan Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation, the press center of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) says.
In this annual meeting representatives of the EU and the Government of Tajikistan reportedly discussed cooperation in the context of the EU’s 2021-2027 bilateral program for Tajikistan and other areas of ongoing cooperation.
At the beginning of the meeting, Solehzoda reportedly noted that Tajikistan considers the European Union a reliable and important partner for development to achieve its strategic goals.
It was noted that a two-side trade between Tajikistan and the European Union last year valued at 401.5 million US dollars.
The MoEDT press center notes that during the meeting, the main focus reportedly was on the issues related to trade and economic cooperation, industry and investment, health care, education, energy, rural development , budget support, border security, “green economy”, digitalization, establishment of technology parks and development of digital technologies, the rule of law and human rights, participation in payment of the Roghun hydropower project, cooperation on regional issues, as well as promotion of trade and introduction of electronic trade system in Tajikistan.
Solehzoda reportedly briefed EU representatives on Tajikistan’s achievements in the mentions areas and invited the European Union to invest more actively in Tajikistan’s priority areas like green energy, particularly construction of hydropower plants, industry, agriculture, transportation and logistics, digitalization, and border strengthening.
The EU representatives, for their part, noted that at the first stage of the European Union Multiannual Indicative Program (MIP) for 2021-2024, 91 million euros were allocated for Tajikistan’s priority areas, projects are being implemented.
The new EU MIP for 2024-2027 is reportedly under consideration and the amount for it will be determined in 2024.
Multiannual Indicative Programs (MIPs), which identify the key priorities for the EU's cooperation with partner countries, have been developed in collaboration between the EU Delegations and partner countries' authorities, and are informed by broader stakeholder and civil society consultations.
The EU party reportedly also noted that the European Union had provided a 45 million EUR grant to Tajikistan for development of its energy sector.
