Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

The Asian Development Bank will increase its assistance to Tajikistan by around $20 million in 2015, raising its full year planned assistance program to $79 million, ADB said on January 15.

“Based on the recent country performance assessment, ADB will increase its annual allocation to Tajikistan by around $20 million,” C.C. Yu, ADB’s Country Director for Tajikistan said. “The final amount may still change subject to further discussions with the government and funding availability.”

The 2015 assistance will be used to support development of the private sector, railways and water resources, and to help strengthening the investment climate.

Out of the planned $79 million, $20 million will be used to boost the quality and efficiency of the country’s technical and vocational education system.

Аnother $20 million is earmarked for the government’s budgetary support program, which will implement a series of reforms aimed at improving the country’s investment climate to promote private investment and create more working places.

This assistance is important given an expected decrease in remittances by Tajik migrant workers, as a result of the sharp depreciation of the Russian ruble.

ADB is also preparing a $30 million project to improve water resource management and to strengthen the climate resilience in the Chubek irrigation area, which will help lifting farm incomes.

Another $9 million is being set aside to prepare a railway project.

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998 and, to date, ADB has approved total assistance of around $1.3 billion in concessional loans, grants, and technical assistance to the country. The ADB-Tajikistan partnership has promoted social development, upgraded and built new infrastructure, expanded agricultural production, and encouraged regional cooperation and trade under the CAREC Program.

ADB, based in Manila, dedicates itself to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the Asia-Pacific region.

Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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