DUSHANBE, November 14, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Thursday November 14, Tajik Minister of Finance Safarali Najmiddinov met here with the World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan Ms. Marsha M. Olive.

According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF)’s Secretariat, the sides discussed issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and World Bank.

A special attention was reportedly given to Tajikistan’s energy sector and feasibility study for the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Trade and transmission Project (CASA 1000).

The sides also discussed implementation of the upcoming joint programs and pointed to the necessity of coordination of Tajikistan’s relations with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other international financial institutions.

Tajik minister expressed gratitude to the World Bank country manager and noted that considerable progress had been made in the country’s financial sector during cooperation with the World Bank, the MoF Secretariat said.

Mr. Sunil Kumar Hosla, Task Manager for the CASA 100 Project and Manager of the World Bank Central Asia Energy-Water Development Program (CAEWDP), also attended the meeting.    

The CASA 1000 Project is expected to develop the necessary physical infrastructure and create the institutional and legal framework to transmit surplus power available from existing generation facilities in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The physical infrastructure for CASA 1000 is likely to include: a 500 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system between Tajikistan and Pakistan through Afghanistan; an AC transmission link from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to connect to the HVDC line from Tajikistan to South Asia;  and the necessary electricity sub-stations in Kabul, Peshawar and Sangtuda (in Tajikistan).