DUSHANBE, January 22, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- In 2005-2008, Tajikistan’s savings bank, Amonatbonk, provided more than 32 million somoni (TJS) in loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in remote mountain areas, Asia-Plus has learned from Azamatsho Khudoiyev, deputy head of Amonatbonk’s credit and investment department.

According to him, to provide loans to SMEs in mountain areas the bank received 10 million somoni from the Ministry of Finance in 2005 at 5 percent annual interest.  In order to cover banking services Amonatbonk has provided loans to small and medium-sized businesses at 7 percent annual rate.  “Since 10 million somoni provided by a MoF have been in permanent circulation, we have managed to increase the volume of loans to 32 million,” Khudoiyev said.

In the meantime, deputy head of Amonatbonk Ms. Gulnora Hasanova noted that the bank have not had any benefit from those loans.  “However, we fell that they have promoted increasing population’s awareness of Amonatbonk and people’s trust in our bank.” Hasanova said.