The banking system is doing everything to increase the supply of foreign currency in the domestic market and cover the existing deficit, an official source within the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) told Asia-Plus in an interview.  

According to him, the foreign currency deficit has always existed in the country.  “The foreign currency deficit results from negative trade balance and influence of seasonal factors on the volumes of foreign currency coming into the country,” the source noted.  

“Thus, over the first eight months of this year, a trade deficit in Tajikistan has amounted to 1.428.2 billion USD, which was 301.1 million USD more than in the same period last year,” said the source.  “Over seven months, lending agencies have sold 1.441.1 billion USD, 1.107.9 billion Russian rubles and 88.6 million euros in the domestic market.”   

Over the same seven month period, average monthly sales of foreign currency have reportedly stood at 376.8 million USD and average daily sales of foreign currency have stood at 12.6 million USD.