DUSHANBE, April 14, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- An official opening of an office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Business Advisory Services (BAS) Programme is being held in Khujand, the capital of Sughd province today, Ms. Yelena Akhmedova, communications manager, BAS Programme in Tajikistan, said.

Organized by the BAS Programme in Tajikistan, the event will be attended by Mr. Sodiqjon Mirkholiqov, Mayor of Khujand, Mr. Ulf Hindstrom, Head of the EBRD Office in Tajikistan, Ms. Garbriel Al-Salem, Regional of BAS Programme in Central Asia, Mr. Akram Toshmatov, Director of BAS Program in Tajikistan, representatives from the BAS Program, partner organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), consulting companies and media.

TV reporting on problems of SMEs in Tajikistan with participation Tajik independent economist Rustam Bobojonov and entrepreneurs that cooperated with the BAS Programme in Tajikistan will be demonstrated on sidelines of the office-opening ceremony.

The BAS Programme in Tajikistan was established in April 2007 with funding from the Early Transition Countries Fund (ETC). Further funding has been provided by Luxembourg, EBRD as well as the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund.  The BAS Programme in Tajikistan has also undertaken a number of market development activities, including training events promoting the development of the local consultancy market.  More than 140 projects have been successfully implemented with participation of BAS Programme in Tajikistan over the past three years.