DUSHANBE, May 26, 2011, Asia-Plus — State and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) were discussed here on May 24 at a meeting of Said Sharif, Chairman of Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), with Kishvar Abdulaliyev, General Manager of AKF’s Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP), the CCI press office reports.
In the course of the talks, the two reportedly discussed issues related to supporting development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tajikistan, training of personnel, assistance for organization of overseas trips for experience exchange. The sides expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation.
Said Sharif informed Abdulaliyev of the most important events scheduled for the near future and asked to provide support to local firms and entrepreneurs from mountain areas wanting to participate in an international exhibition, InterLegProm, which will take place in Dushanbe from June 7-9, the source said.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational, international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. Created as a private, non-profit foundation under Swiss law, it has branches and independent affiliates in 15 countries. It is a modern vehicle for traditional philanthropy in the Ismaili Muslim community under the leadership of the Aga Khan.
MSDSP is a locally registered organization and a non time-bound project administered by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in Tajikistan. MSDSP works in several areas in rural development, spanning community development, enterprise development, natural resource management, engineering and policy and evaluation. The Programme currently operates in 18 districts in three regions of Tajikistan, with a target population of more than 730,000 people.