DUSHANBE, May 14, Asia-Plus - The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) mission led by Carlos Pinerua has been in Tajikistan since May 10 to discuss with Tajik officials Tajikistan’s economic development results. 

            According to the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), the main purpose of a seven-day visit is for the IMF mission to inform Tajikistan’s political leadership of the results of discussion by the Fund’s Executive Board of Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement in Washington on March 29, 2007.  

            Under Article IV, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. In the context of the 2006 Article IV consultation with Tajikistan, the following documents have been released and are included in this package: the staff report for the 2006 Article IV consultation, prepared by a staff team of the IMF, following discussions that ended on February 1, 2007, with Tajik officials on economic developments and policies. Based on information available at the time of these discussions, the staff report was completed on March 7, 2007.  The views expressed in the staff report are those of the staff team and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Board of the IMF; a Public Information Notice (PIN) summarizing the views of the Executive Board as expressed during its March 28, 2007 discussion of the staff report that concluded the Article IV consultation; and a statement by the Executive Director for Tajikistan.  

            During its stay in Tajikistan, the IMF mission has already held meetings with Tajik ministers of economy and finance, as well as the country’s central bank head and tax committee chief.  The talks focused on the economic development indices, according to the NBT.  

            Today afternoon, the IMF mission head Carlos Pinerua met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.  

            The Fund’s mission is also scheduled to discuss at Tajik central bank issues related to monetary policy, payment balance and banking oversight.  

            Pinerua also intends to meet with senior representatives from a number of commercial banks and international organizations active in Tajikistan.