DUSHANBE, June 30, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Government of Tajikistan and The Saudi Fund for Development recently signed a loan agreement for 20 million U.S. dollars was signed recently in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

The source at a MoF says the loan is allocated for co-financing a vital project in the transportation sector, namely; the construction of the Shuroobod-Shagon section of the road Kulob-Qalai Khumb.  This project is being implemented with co-financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

A total cost of the project designed for 2010-2012 is 93 million U.S. dollars and Tajikistan’s contribution amounts to 7.9 million U.S. dollars, the source said.

The project aims to support social and economic development of the southeast region of Tajikistan and break the isolation of the country by connecting eastern Tajikistan to the world through China.