DUSHANBE, February 10, 2012, Asia-Plus -- On Tuesday February 7, Abdujabbor Shirinov, the head of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), met with heads of financial institutions to discuss monetary policy and efforts taken to curb inflation and provide real economic growth, the NBT press center reports.

The central bank head reportedly drew attention of heads of commercial banks to the necessity of improving financial and electronic banking services.

Shirinov, in particular, pointed to the necessity of increasing lending volumes and providing long-term loans for development of productive entrepreneurship, taking measures to ensure repayment of problem loans, development of equity market, financial sustainability and profitability of banks, development of microfinance organizations and attraction of foreign capital.

14 banks ad 124 non-bank financial institutions now function in Tajikistan.