DUSHANBE, March 9, 2011, Asia-Plus  --  The Committee for Youth, Sport and Tourism Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan plans to provide small short-term loans to youth.

Kabirjon Jourayev, the first deputy head of the   Committee for Youth, Sport and Tourism Affairs, says the loans will be given in the framework of the second component of the World Bank-sponsored project aimed at facilitating development of entrepreneurship and youth employment in Tajikistan.

According to him, the project targets three pilot districts: Danghara; Isfara and Hissar.  “Since the beginning of this year, 250 unemployed youth have been taking training courses on getting the feel of entrepreneurial activity in the framework of the mentioned project,” Jourayev noted, adding that they will begin to provide small short-term loans beginning on March 20.

The project was launched in 2007 and is expected to be finished until the end of this year.  “We are currently carrying out negotiations with donors on extending the project and implementing it in other pilot districts of the country,” said Jourayev, “A total cost of the project (2007-2011) is more than US$2.1 million.”