DUSHANBE, March 2, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- On the threshold of the Day of Mother that is marked in Tajikistan on March 8 and the Navrouz Holiday (March 21), Tajikistan’s savings bank, Amonatbonk, has offered local craftswomen low interest rate loans.

According to the Amonatbonk press service, the loans are provided due to investments from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), which is one of Amonatbonk’s external partners.

“Under the current conditions, such assistance to women in remote mountain districts promotes increase in their social status,” the source said.  

Amonatbonk is the only state-owned bank in Tajikistan.  It is one of the oldest in Tajikistan (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, 69 branches and nearly 500 agencies.  This gives the institution a presence in the most remote mountainous parts of the country.