DUSAHNBE, May 4, Asia-Plus - The World Bank will provide funds in grants to finance three projects in Tajikistan , Murodali Alimardonov, Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on May 3.  

According to him, during an April meeting in Washington Tajikistan ’s Government and the World Bank (WB) reached an agreement on financing reforms development program, project for technical assistance in reforming public management system, as well as a project for strengthening of the national statistical system in Tajikistan .  For implementing these projects the World Bank has provided at the first stage US$20 million to the Government of Tajikistan, according to Alimardonov.

The Tajik central bank head also noted that representatives from the World Bank also stated that they would double quotas of funds provided to the republic.  “In this case, a volume of funds provided by the World Bank will increase from US$150 million to US$300 million,” Alimardonov said, noting that in June, the World bank will consider a new three-year program on Tajikistan aimed at reforming budgetary and monetary policy as well as state structures.  

On the results of a visit of Tajik economic team to Washington , the NBT head also noted that representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary, and other international financial institutions had also shown interest in investing in enhancement of energy sector in Tajikistan .  Alimardonov, in particular, noted that some international financial institutions might possibly participate in the completion of the construction of the Roghun hydropower plant in Tajikistan .  

Moreover, banks are also discussing the possibility of the participation in facilitating the regional cooperation in energy sector between Tajikistan , Afghanistan , Pakistan and India , according to him.  They are also considering the issue of the construction of the Dashtijum hydroelectric power station on the Panj River in Tajikistan . 

“International financial institutions considers Tajikistan as one of main exporter of electricity in the region,” the Tajik central bank head added.