DUSHANBE, April 1, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On Thursday March 31, President Emomali Rahmon received Mr. Motu Konishi, the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia, and Ms. Marsha Olive, new World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan, presidential press service said.

At the beginning of a meeting, Mr. Konishi introduced the new World Bank country manager for Tajikistan to President Rahmon and noted that the Bank was interested in expansion of cooperation with Tajikistan.

The meeting reportedly focused on the World Bank’s support for Tajikistan in overcoming effects of the global financial and economic crisis under conditions of rising fuel and food prices.

The sides also discussed issues related to conducting the techno-economic, the environmental and social impact assessments for the Roghun hydroelectricity project and implementation of the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Trade and Transmission Project (CASA-1000), which provides for supplying 1000 MW of surplus electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan with power transit though Afghanistan.

The sides expressed confidence that experienced international experts would carry out the assessment studies over a certain period of time and thereby put an end to disputes over the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP), the press service noted.