DUSHANBE, June 18, Asia-Plus - President Emomali Rahmon’s working trip to northern Tajikistan ended with a meeting with local authorities in Khujand to sum up Sughd’s socioeconomic results in January-May and determine tasks for future. 

Speaking at the meeting, the president ordered to project and submit for consideration to the government programs for development of new lands in the province, rehabilitation of gardening and viticulture, development of the Mastchoh district for 2007-2015, as well as rehabilitation and development of industrial sector in Isfara,

During the meeting, President Rahmon noted that further 143 million somonis had been provided from the country’s national budget for development of Sughd over the past three years.  According to him, 60 large investment projects totaling 2 billion somonis are currently being implemented in northern Tajikistan. 

Besides, of 267 million somonis that have been provided in small loans this year, 96 million somonis have been provided to entrepreneurs in the Sughd province, which is 1.7 times more than last year, Rahmon said.

The head of state also pointed to the necessity of rehabilitation of water supply and educational facilities in the province.

By president’s instruction further 160 million somonis in bank loans will go to enhancing Sughd’s economy this year.  Of this amount, 70 million somonis will go to supporting entrepreneurs in rural areas.  “To promote development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Isfara’s Chorkuh and Vorukh jamoats alone, 20 million somonis will be provided before the end of this year,” the president said. 

Rahmon appreciated Khujand Invest Cotton’s construction of spinning mill in the Zafarobod district and diary-enterprises in the Bobojonghafurov district and the city of Khujand.  He also expressed confidence that the company Olimi Karimzod will complete construction of the spinning enterprise in the Mastchoh district by September 2008.  

We will recall that during his working trip to the Sughd province, President Rahmon visited a number of districts to familiarize himself with activities of industrials and farming units.