KHUJAND, March 27, 2009, Asia-Plus  - According to the branch of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) in Khujand, banks in the Sughd province have reduced loan allocations.

The source at the NBT’s branch in Khujand noted that it could not be ruled out that the loan allocations had been reduced due the ongoing global financial crisis.

According to him, local banks have provided 88 million somoni in loans over the first two months of this year, which is 20 percent fewer than in the same period of 2008.

Some banks in northern Tajikistan have also reviewed their loan interest rates.  “Thus, banks, having good custom basis and whose services are in demand, now provide loans at 36 percent annual interest,” the source said.