DUSHANBE, April 14, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Asian Development Bank Tajikistan Regional Mission (TJRM) has concurred with the Government of Tajikistan a Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for the coming five years, Mr. Makoto Ojiro, ADB''s Country Director for Tajikistan, remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 13.

According to him, the CPS will be submitted for consideration to ADB’s Board of Directors in May this year.  “The Strategy will focus on development of energy and private sectors,” Mr. Ojiro noted.

He stressed that ADB would provide 252 million U.S dollars to Tajikistan in the form of grant in the coming three years.  Of this amount, US$150 million are supposed to be provided this year for implementing the regional energy project and supporting the private sector.  The remaining US$152 million will be provided in equal parts (US$51 million) in the next two years.

“This will have good effect on Tajikistan’s economy.  I hope the government will use these funds efficiently,” Mr. Ojiro noted.

ADB’s current loan portfolio in Tajikistan is US$380 million and major projects are aimed at supporting enhancement of the energy and private sectors in the country.

Mr. Ojiro also noted that the results of implementation of the first phase of the Dushanbe-Vahdat-Nourbod-Jirgatol-Saritash road rehabilitation project as well as the health system rehabilitation project would be declared in the near future.  

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, and to date has received total assistance of about $560 million in concessional loans, grants and technical assistance from this institution.