DUSHANBE, February 11, 2016, Asia-Plus – The UK Minister of State for International Development Desmond Swayne will arrive in Dushanbe on February 15 on a three-day visit, according to the Tajik MFA information department.

The upcoming visit of the DFID delegation was reportedly considered at a meeting of Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister Nizomiddin Zohidi with UK Ambassador to Tajikistan Hugh Philpott that took place last week.

Meanwhile, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov told reporters in Dushanbe on February 4 that the United Kingdom has provided preferential loan of £31 million for the financing of construction of the Tajik section of the 1000 Electricity Transmission and Trade Project for Central Asia and South Asia (CASA 1000).  Besides, the United Kingdom last year provided 18 trucks to the Tajik Ministry of Defense, Aslov noted.

The Minister of State for International Development represents DFID in the House of Commons.  The Minister currently leads on the following areas within DFID: Asia, Overseas Territories and Western Asia (including Eastern Europe); Middle East and North Africa; conflict, humanitarian, security, governance and anti-corruption; economic development (private sector, trade and international financial institutions); and Scotland engagement, and lead Abercrombie House Minister.