DUSHANBE, October 8, 2008, Asia-Plus -- Within the framework of technical and financial cooperation, the German government intends to provide an additional assistance in an amount of €36 million to Tajikistan in 2009-2010, Ms. Marion Urban, Chairperson of the Department for Central Asia and South Caucasus within Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Development, announced at a Tajik-German conference in Dushanbe on October 8.

A two-day Tajik-German conference to discuss state and prospects of further expansion of economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Germany was launched in Dushanbe today.

Ms. Urban noted that of this amount, 29 million euros are intended for funding financial cooperation projects and the remaining 7 million euros will go to supporting the technical cooperation projects.  Besides, Germany provides 1 million euros for reprogramming of funds, she said.

“Germany provides these funds to support development of Tajikistan’s economy.  Capital resources will go to supporting economic development through microfinance programs, providing consultative support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as improving frame legal and political conditions through implementation of regional projects,” MS. Urban noted.

Over the past 17 years, the Germany government has provided €83 million worth of assistance, including €5 million provided for modernization of the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS), to Tajikistan.