KHOROG, October 15, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- In January-September 2010, branches of the country’s commercial banks and microloan organizations operating in Gorno Badakhshan have provided 58.8 million somoni in loans, which is 19.6 million somoni more than in the same period last year, Nasriddin Nasriddinov, the head of the branch of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) in Khorog, announced at a news conference in Khorog on October 15.

“The First MicroFinanceBank Tajikistan alone has provided loans for 19.7 million somoni over the report period and Agroinvestbonk’s branch in the region has provided 13.7 million somoni in loans,” Nasriddinov said.

Heads of branches of a number of commercial banks operating in Gorno Badakhshan noted the loans have mainly gone to supporting enhancement of agrarian, construction and industrial sectors.

According to them, repayment of loans remains a serious problem.  Existing loans account on average for 5 to 31 percent of loans provided by banks, the branch heads said, adding that 50 cases related to existing loans have been sent to courts.