DUSHANBE, October 19, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Over the first nine months of this year, Tajikistan’s financial institutions have provided loans for a total amount of 3.3096 billion somoni (equivalent to some 754 million U.S. dollars), which is 10.1 percent more than in the same period of last year, according to the National Bank of Tajikistan.

44.5 percent of these loans have been provided in the national currency and 55.9 percent of them have been provided in foreign currencies.

Over the same nine-month period, the volume of repaid loans has amounted to 2.5573 billion somoni and as October 1, 2009, total residue of loans amounted to 5.6123 billion somoni, which is 19.1 percent more compared to October 1, 2008.  As of October 1, 2009, the total residue of loans amounted to 4.7135 billion somoni.

Current average weighted interest on loans provided by Tajik financial institutions is 22.6 percent for loans in the national currency and 24.9 percent for loans provided in foreign currencies.

According to the NBT, the volume of microloans provided over the report period has amounted to 1.3184 billion somoni, which is 6.9 percent fewer than in the same period of last year.

Twelve banks, seven credit societies, one non-banking financial organization and 106 microfinance organizations now function in the Tajikistan.