DUSHANBE, April 8, 2013, Asia-Plus -- As of March 1, 2013, the remainder of loans provided by Tajik banks amounted to some 5.7 billion somoni, which is 17.4 percent more than on the same date last year, according to the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT).

Tajik banks provided 2.3 billion somoni in the national currency, and 3.3 billion somoni were provided in foreign currencies.     

The weighted average interest rate for loans provided in the national currency over the first two months of this year was 25.45 percent and the weighted average interest rate for loans provided in foreign currencies over the same two-month period was 24.93 percent, Tajik central bank source noted.

Short-term loans reportedly accounted for 60.9 percent of a total amount loan provided by commercial banks over the report period, and long-term loans accounted for 39.1 percent. 

In January-February this year, local banks have provided 135.5 million somoni in microloans to residents of remote mountain areas, 49.3 percent more than in the same period last year, the source said.  

According to Tajik central bank, 142 credit organizations, including 16 banks and 299 their branches, two non-bank financial institutions and 124 microfinance organizations now function in Tajikistan.