DUSHANBE, February 11, 2015 Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday received visiting Vice-President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Kiyoshi Kodera.

According to the Tajik president’s official websites, state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan were a major topic of the meeting.

Rahmon reportedly appreciated Japan’s support for economic development of Tajikistan and expressed hope for further expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.

To-date, Japan has provided more than 300 million U.S. dollars in grants and 60 million U.S. dollars in technical assistance to Tajikistan for implementation of investment projects and institutional development.

Japan has supported enhancement of social, energy, transportation and agrarian sectors in the country and development of remote mountain areas.

Two new projects aiming to enhance water supply in Khatlon’s Panj district and improve conditions of Dushanbe International Airport were signed last year.

Mr. Kiyoshi Kodera noted that JICA planned to expand its cooperation with Tajikistan.  JICA is expected to help Tajikistan mitigate negative external effects resulting from economic problems facing some countries, which are major trading and economic partners of Tajikistan.

We will recall that Mr. Kiyoshi Kodera heading a JICA delegation arrived in Dushanbe on February 9 on a three-day working visit.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.

JICA started providing technical assistance to Tajikistan in 1991, and Representative Office of JICA in Tajikistan was established in 2006.