DUSHANBE, March 31, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Tajikistan’s savings bank, Amonatbonk, have signed a cooperation agreement.

According to Amonatbonk press service, Ms. Gulnora Hasanova, chairperson of Amonatbonk, yesterday met here with a group of the EBRD representatives, led by Mr. Henry Russell, EBRD Director of Small Business Finance and Energy Efficiency.

In the course of the talks, the sides discussed issues related to providing loans to small enterprises through Amonatbonk.  The talks resulted in signing of an agreement on cooperation between EBRD and Amonatbonk, the source said.

Amonatbonk is the only state-owned bank in Tajikistan.  It is one of the oldest in the country (established in 1925) and one of the largest based upon various criteria - including the number of branches and the number of served clients.  The institution is unique in its orientation towards implementing social, pension and other state programs.  Amonatbonk has 5 regional centers, 70 branches and 503 agencies. This gives the institution a presence in the most remote mountainous parts of the country.