DUSHANBE, July 28, 2008, Asia-Plus  - Open joint-stock company (OJSC) Agroinvestbonk and the Association of Microfinance Organizations of Tajikistan (AMFOT) have signed an agreement on establishment of the microdeposit-taking institution, Bovari, Asia-Plus head learned at Agroinvestbonk’s head office in Dushanbe.

The source said that the agreement was signed on July 14.  “Bovari will support development of small and medium-sized enterprises and microfinance in the country through providing loans to medium-sized and small microfinance organizations working in all regions of the countries, including remote mountain areas,” the source said.   

Founded in 1992, Agroinvestbonk, with headquarters in Dushanbe, has main branches in Khorog, Khujand, Kulob and Qurghon Teppa and 57 other branches across the republic.  

The Association of Microfinance Organizations of Tajikistan is a non-commercial organization unifying on a voluntary basis organizations involved in microfinance and other organizations interested in development of microfinance in Tajikistan.

AMFOT started its activity in 2000 when several NGOs, involved in implementing microfinance programs, formed a Coalition of Tajik MFO on a voluntary basis to jointly address challenges and protect their rights and interests. AMFOT was officially registered in January 2004 and is one of the first organizations of this kind in the Central Asian region.