On Friday October 29, Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Tajikistan Takayuki Miyashita together Tajik President Emomali Rahmon attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the project for “Rehabilitation of Qizilqala-Bokhtar Section of Dushanbe-Bokhtar Road” that took place in Obi Kiik, administrative center of Khuroson district, Khatlon province.

The ceremony was also attended by Tajik Transport Minister Azim Ibrohim and Head of JICA Office in Tajikistan Muneo Takasaka

According to Japan’s Embassy in Dushanbe, Japan’s Government will provide 3,232 billion Japanese Yen (approximately 28. 5 million U.S. dollars) to the Government of Tajikistan for implementation of this project.   

The main goal of the project is to ensure safe and smooth traffic in the important southern route of Tajikistan by renovating a road and expanding it from two to four lanes in Qizilqala-Bokhtar section.  The length of this road section connecting Dushanbe and Bokhtar is 9.2 kilometers.

It should be mentioned that Dushanbe-Bokhtar road is also a main highway leading to the Afghan border. It is expected that the traffic passing through the section will increase by about 35%, and the project will directly and indirectly benefit the entire country's citizens, including about 3 million residents of Khatlon province.  According to the plan, the road section will be commissioned in January 2023 and will contribute to the economic development of Tajikistan by improving logistics, traffic safety and convenience, and revitalizing economic activities by reducing transportation costs.

The cooperation between Japan and Tajikistan is making progress in many spheres.  Particularly in the sphere of economic cooperation, Japan has thus far provided grant aid of 46.25 billion Yen (around 405.6 million U.S. dollars) since 1996.  To this day, many projects are continuously being implemented, particularly around the infrastructure and rural development sectors.  With the beginning of the above-mentioned project, Japan’s Official Development Assistance will accelerate even more.