President Emomali Rahmon today received Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), on the sidelines of the Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, which taking place in Dushanbe on June 10-13, according to the Tajik president’s official website said.
In the course of the talks, the parties reportedly discussed state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the Islamic Development Bank.
“Tajikistan considers the Islamic Development Bank as one of its important partners and we expresses satisfaction with fruitful cooperation with it,” Emomali Rahmon was cited as saying.
It was emphasized that to-date, IsDB has provided 916 million US dollars for implementation of priority projects, with 237 million US dollars being provided for implementation of a series of projects in energy, transport, agrarian, educational and healthcare sectors.
During the meeting, Tajik leader and IsDB president reportedly also discussed the issues related to expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the IsDB in sectors like hydropower, industry, agriculture, transport, tourism and banking as well as establishing logistics centers, reducing the impact of external factors on Tajikistan’s economy and continuing reforms.
In this context, Emomali Rahmon appreciated IsDB’s initiative to finance the implementation of the Roghun hydropower project (HPP).
It was reportedly noted that Tajikistan is interested in continuing cooperation with the Bank within the framework of the bilateral cooperation strategy designed for 2023-2026, the agreements with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and the supports the Implementation of National Education Development Strategy in Tajikistan and the National Education Development Strategy Support Program.
Meanwhile, the IsDB reported on June 5 that the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, will embark on an official trilateral visit to the Central Asian nations of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Tajikistan from June 5 to June 13, 2024. This visit aims to strengthen economic ties, explore transformative developmental projects, and enhance multifaceted cooperation across various strategic sectors.
“Dr. Al Jasser’s first stop will be in the Kyrgyz Republic from June 5 to 8. During this initial leg, he will visit several flagship projects funded by the IsDB and hold high-level bilateral talks with Sadyrbek Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and other senior government officials. The discussions will revolve around enhancing financial cooperation, forging new partnerships, and unlocking innovative opportunities in crucial sectors such as energy, healthcare, and information and communication technologies (ICT). Additionally, the IsDB will actively engage in initiatives aimed at advancing vaccine manufacturing and cutting-edge technology development within the nation.
“On June 8th, Dr. Al Jasser will travel to the Republic of Kazakhstan, where he will engage in bilateral talks with senior members of the government, on the way to enhancing collaboration and mutual prosperity.
“The final leg of the President’s visit, from June 9th to 13th, will be in the Republic of Tajikistan. Here, Dr. Al Jasser will attend the prestigious National Development Council Meeting, chaired by President Emomali Rahmon, where he will deliver opening remarks and engage in discussions on developmental initiatives. Furthermore, he will hold bilateral talks with President Emomali Rahmon and other senior government officials, fostering stronger ties and exploring avenues for enhanced cooperation.
“The visit will culminate in the signing of the Financing Agreements for the Construction of Lot 4 of the Roghun hydropower project, marking a significant milestone in the IsDB’s partnership with Tajikistan. The delegation will also visit the Rogun HPP project site and other IsDB-financed projects, including a school in Dushanbe and the transformative Danghara Valley Irrigation Project, interacting with beneficiaries and witnessing the tangible impact of these initiatives.
“The trilateral visit to Central Asian Countries aims to reinforce longstanding partnerships the three countries, promote regional cooperation, and unlock new frontiers of collaboration in key sectors that will shape the future of these nations and their people,” the IsDB said.
The Islamic Development Bank is a multilateral development finance institution that is focused on Islamic finance for infrastructure development and located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. There are 57 shareholding member states with the largest single shareholder being Saudi Arabia.
Tajikistan joined the Islamic Development Bank on November 27, 1996 and has a capital subscription of ID 18.2 million (0.04% of total IsDB subscribed capital).
The IsDB supports implementation of investment projects in education, healthcare, energy, transportation, agrarian and other priority socioeconomic sectors of Tajikistan.
