The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), yesterday launched a new initiative that will support long-term economic opportunities in Tajikistan.
The US Embassy in Dushanbe notes that USAID’s new five-year, $18 million Employment and Enterprise Development Activity (EEDA) will catalyze sustainable development and inclusive economic opportunities in Tajikistan.
EEDA is expected to partner with firms to improve the productivity in textile, food processing and IT sectors through the adoption of innovative, green technologies, increased investment, and market linkages. It will create 5,000 permanent jobs; assist 200 business start-ups in accessing finance; and leverage US$10 million in private sector investment.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, USAID Tajikistan Mission Director Peter Riley noted, “It is crucial to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and create sustainable employment opportunities within the public and private entities. These partnerships underscore the shared goal of advancing Tajikistan’s economic landscape and ensuring prosperity for all stakeholders.”
Art Gandilyan, ACDI-VOCA Home Office Representative noted: “The activity will focus on sustainability by a) establishing commercial relationships that continue after the project ends; b) creating economic motivation for the private sector to co-invest; and c) building partnerships around end markets that bring resources to invest in market systems expansion.”
The Tajikistan Employment and Enterprise Development Activity (EEDA) is a five-year, US$18 million program funded by USAID and implemented by ACDI/VOCA. Using an inclusive market systems (IMS) approach, EEDA will increase market-led sales and inclusive sustainable jobs and livelihoods for Tajikistan households through the improved ability of Tajikistan businesses to produce better quality and more consistent volumes of competitively priced goods and services.
The project objectives are in establishing commercial relationships that continue after the project ends, creating economic motivation for the private sector to co-invest, and providing greater chances for success because of the tangible and intangible resources that the private sector contributes.
USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a lead actor driving development results.
