KHUJAND, August 6, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- In January-June 2009, commercial banks and microfinance organizations operating in Sughd province have provided total loans of 334.5 million somoni (TJS), which is 90.2 million somoni fewer than in the same period of last year, according to the branch of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) in Khujand.

Over the first six months of 2008, local banks and microfinance organizations provided total of 424.7 million somoni, the source at NBT’s branch in Khujand said.

As of July 1, 2009, loan arrears in the province amounted to 511.9 million somoni.  Arrears on short-term loans accounted for 79.1 percent of the overall volume of loan arrears and arrears on long-term loans accounted for 20.9 percent.