DUSHANBE, July 8, 2008, Asia-Plus -- The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) intends to provide a grant of $1.2 million to Tajikistan, according to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT).

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Gafourjon Rasoulov, a spokesman for a MoEDT, said that Mr. Rabbih Mattar, Chief Economist, Islamic Development Bank, heading the bank’s delegation arrived in Dushanbe on July 7 for a four-day working visit. 

The same day, the IDB delegation held talks with Minister of Economic Development and trade Ghulomjon Bobozoda to specify expense items that will be funded by the grant.

The grant will go to increasing  the country’s grain stocks, purchasing seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, as well as necessary equipment, the spokesman said.

During its stay in Tajikistan, the IDB delegation will also hold talks with senior representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

IDB delegation’s visit to Tajikistan is expected to result in signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoA) on allocation of the grant, Rasoulov said.

He further added that another IDB delegation I supposed to arrive in the country in two months to discuss with Tajik officials issues related to providing medium- and long-term loans to Tajikistan.