DUSHANBE, March 14, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Issues related to development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tajikistan was the focus of a March 12 meeting of Deputy Chairman of Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Asanali Karamaliyev, with General Manager of the Mountain Societies Development Support Program (MSDSP), K. Abdulalishoyev, according to the CCI press service.

In the course of the talks, the two underlined the necessity of concluding a cooperation agreement between CCI and MSDSP and determining specifics tasks for the sides to support development of SMEs in the country.

The agreement is expected to provide for joint measures to organize training, produce advertising-information materials, hold business forums, purchase office equipment and other organizing tasks, the press service said.

During the meeting, it was also proposed to work out a working plan to the agreement for 2009-2010.

MSDSP is a locally registered organization and a non time-bound project administered by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in Tajikistan. MSDSP works in several areas in rural development, spanning community development, enterprise development, natural resource management, engineering and policy and evaluation, all of which are explored below. The Program currently operates in 18 districts in three regions of Tajikistan, with a target population of more than 730,000 people