KHJUAND, April 25, 2014, Asia-Plus -- On Wednesday April 23, Sughd governor Abdurahmon Qodiri met with Mr. Stefan Erber, Country Director, GIZ (the German Agency for International Cooperation) Office Tajikistan.

According to the Sughd administration press center, the two discussed issues related to further expansion of bilateral cooperation.

Sughd governor, in particular, informed the GIZ country director about the progress of implementation of land reform in the province and establishment of new farming units.

Qodiri noted that the total number of farming units in the area would reach more than 60,000 by the end of the year.

To-date, more than 22,000 new farms have reportedly been established in Sughd due to reorganization of large farming units.

Sughd governor noted that local authorities were also taking measures to revive light industry and handicraft in the province.

The GIZ country director reportedly noted that Germany was interested in implementing a number of programs aiming to enhance agrarian and industrial sectors in Sughd province.  

GIZ has been supporting economic and social development and reconstruction in Tajikistan since 1995 and opened an office in the capital Dushanbe in 1996.  Program offices in Dushanbe, Khujand, Khorog and Qurghon Teppa support GIZ’s work in rural parts of the country.

There are currently 18 seconded and 125 national personnel, six local experts, three CIM experts, 12 development workers and 20 long-term experts from German consulting firms working for GIZ in Tajikistan.  Of the 17 projects and programs under way, four are bilateral and 13 are regional and global initiatives.

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ is implementing bilateral and regional projects whose primary aim, at present, is to support the long-term development of the economy and the health system.  Other projects focus on education, sustainable management of natural resources, tourism, and support for legal and judicial reform.