Tajikistan has called on the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group and other Islamic financial institutions to expand their support for the country’s key infrastructure and economic sectors.
Tajikistan’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Zavqi Zavqizoda, made the appeal during a meeting with IsDB President Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser on May 19 in Algiers on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IsDB Group, which ae being held there from May 19 to May 22.
The press center of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) says Zavqizoda emphasized the importance of increased financing for high-priority projects such as construction of the Roghun hydropower plant, construction of the Guliston–Farkhor–Panj–Dusti highway.
The Tajik minister reportedly also urged the IsDB to consider funding for initiatives in agriculture, education, textile manufacturing, halal production, logistics infrastructure, trade, tourism, and conventional banking.
In response, the IsDB President expressed readiness to boost investments in the identified sectors and to expand cooperation.
The MoEDT notes that the IsDB Group has already invested over $916 million in Tajikistan's economy. This includes US$550 million in financing for the Roghun Dam, of which US$150 million came directly from the IsDB, and US$400 million from various Arab development funds.
Talks with ITFC on US$100 million investment framework
On the same day, Zavqizoda also held talks with Adib Yahya, head of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), to discuss the implementation of a framework agreement signed in 2023 in Jeddah, aimed at attracting US$100 million in investment between 2023 and 2026.
Both sides stressed the importance of effective implementation of the agreement, which targets priority investment projects across the country.
The Tajik delegation also proposed expanding cooperation in environmentally friendly production, textile manufacturing, and infrastructure development.
The ITFC leadership welcomed these suggestions and expressed readiness to explore concrete mechanisms for financing. Since 2008, the ITFC has allocated more than US$210 million in trade financing for Tajikistan.
