DUSHANBE, November 9, 2015, Asia-Plus – On Monday November 9, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received Mr. Cyril Muller, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, Rahmon and Muller discussed a broad range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the World Bank.

Rahmon reportedly noted that Tajikistan attached significant importance to cooperation with the World Bank on enhancement of energy, agrarian, transport, budgetary and social sectors in Tajikistan.

For his part, Mr. Muller noted that the World Bank has full information about problems facing Tajikistan, including natural disasters that hit the country last summer, and intends to expand cooperation with Tajikistan, the Tajik president’s website said.

In the course of the talks, they also discussed ways of implementation of a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), which outlines a World Bank Group program of support for the country over the period 2015-2018.  The new CPS reportedly provides for allocation of US$250 million to Tajikistan.

The new CPS sets out priority goals in the framework of cooperation between the World Bank Group and the Government of Tajikistan, which will further support efforts to reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity in the country.

The new CPS aims to increase the well-being of the people of Tajikistan by expanding economic opportunities for the private sector and for poor and vulnerable groups in society.  The CPS prioritizes three main areas: 1) promote private sector led growth by improving the investment climate and strengthening competitiveness in key sectors to attract investment and create jobs; 2) promote social inclusion by increasing access to improved social and public services; and 3) enhance regional connectivity to increase the country’s access to regional markets and to global information and knowledge.

In fiscal years 2015-2018, the World Bank will provide its support to Tajikistan through the existing portfolio of projects along with new investments in education, water and sanitation, irrigation, transport, and public financial management. Through analytical work and development policy lending, the Bank will also support structural reforms in the energy and financial sectors to help stimulate stronger growth.

The two sides also discussed implementation of the CASA-1000 Project and agreed to develop disaster prevention and embankment construction projects, the website said.

Tajikistan joined the World Bank in 1993 and the International Development Association (IDA) in 1994.  The World Bank’s active portfolio in Tajikistan includes 24 projects (including regional projects and Trust Funds) with a net commitment of US$ 383 million that aim to support economic growth through private sector development, while investing in better public services for people, such as education, health, municipal services and social protection.