DUSHANBE, December 17, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Report on implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) in 2007 has already been prepared and submitted for consideration to the government, Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, Abdugaffor Rahmonov, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, work on preparation of report on implementation of the PRS in 2008 is under way and it is planned to set up working groups at the beginning of 2009 for working up PRS for 2010-2012.

On the PRS implementation problems, the deputy minister noted that there were, first of all, institutional problems.  “The government, in particular, passed a resolution requiring establishment of separate structure for PRS monitoring at the relevant ministries and organizations; however, not all of them have set up such structures so far,” said Rahmonov, “Such structures are to be established at the regional administrations as well, however, only Gorno Badakhshan has established the PRS monitoring structure so far.”    

He further added that that the National Council for Development is planned to be established at the beginning of 2009.  This council is dedicated to play a key role in implementation of the poverty reduction strategy.

“We planned to establish the national council for development in 2007 already but failed.  This year, the president signed a decree on establishment of this council, which will be able to tackle many problems facing implementation of PRS,” the deputy minister said.