DUSHANBE, July 28, 2011, Asia-Plus — Chairman of Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Sharif Said yesterday met here with Mr. Stephen Wermert, Head of Regional Business Development for Central Asia and the South Caucasus, Asia Development Bank (ADB) and Mr. Qahhor Aminov of ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM), the CCI press center reports.
The sides reportedly discussed issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the ADB, outlining sectors for investment and seeking foreign partners for Tajik entrepreneurs.
The CCI head, in particular, outlined energy, light industry and processing sector both in industry and agriculture as the main sectors for investment.
The ADB representative, for their part, noted that the Asian Development Bank was interested in areas like construction of hydropower plants and development of agribusiness based on attraction of investors and high technologies.
They stressed that consideration of proposal on crediting was a long process, and therefore, the crediting itself was expected to be resumed next year, the source said.
We will recall that since 2009, the Asian Development Bank has been provided only grant assistance to Tajikistan.
ADB began operations in Tajikistan in 1998 and according to information posted on ADB’s website, the Bank has enjoyed a stable partnership during the past 12 years. ADB”s main task was to channel financial and technical resources to help the country improve the overall economic situation, reduce poverty, and rehabilitate infrastructure. Cumulatively, ADB has approved $372.5 million in loans, $35.4 million in technical assistance, and $284.4 million in grants for Tajikistan.