On December 19, 2025, on the sideline of the Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue in Tokyo, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Emomali RAHMON, met with Dr. TANAKA Akihiko, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). During the meeting, the President RAHMON highly appreciated JICA’s long-standing contribution to Tajikistan’s social and economic development. Taking into account the current regional and global context, both sides reaffirmed the importance of strengthening connectivity and promoting green economy as key areas of future cooperation.

Prior to this meeting, on December 10, 2025, the Exchange of Notes were signed between Ms. FURUTA Keiko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tajikistan and Mr. MUHRIDDIN Sirojiddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Based on these Exchange of Notes, a signing ceremony for the Japanese Grant Aid Projects entitled “The Project for the Improvement of Freight-Scanning Equipment at Spitamen Customs on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route” and “The Project for the Construction of the Substation for the Bulk Power System in Dushanbe city (Detailed Design)” was held at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. QAHHORZODA Faiziddin, the Chief Representative of the JICA Tajikistan Office, Mr. IMAI Seiju, as well as representatives of relevant government institutions and invited guests.

The objective of the freight-scanning project, amounting to 1.3 billion Japanese Yen (approximately USD 8.6 million) is to enhance connectivity, strengthen economic security, and improve the efficiency and transparency of public administration.

Meanwhile, the project for substation aims to improve the reliability of power supply in Dushanbe City through constructing a new 220 kV transmission substation, thereby contributing to the stable supply of electricity in the metropolitan area. Further construction is expected to follow the completion of the Detailed Design. The amount of the grant for this project is 41 million Japanese Yen (approximately USD 0.26 million).

Both projects directly correspond to the key priorities of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2030 (NDS-2030). The two projects contribute to promoting the economic and social development of the country by increasing its transport and transit capacity, as well as the reliability of electricity supply.

JICA is committed to continuing to support the development of the Republic of Tajikistan in close cooperation with the Government of Japan.

JICA has partnered with Tajikistan since 1993, beginning with the invitation of Tajik officials to gain knowledge and experience in governance and macroeconomic development. As of December 2025, more than 2,600 people have participated in JICA’s Knowledge Co-Creation Programs. Following the establishment of the JICA Office in Tajikistan in 2006, cooperation has expanded significantly through Grant Assistance and Technical Cooperation projects across key sectors, including agriculture and rural development, water supply, health, transport, energy, capacity building, and SME promotion. As of the end of the Japanese fiscal year 2024, JICA’s cumulative portfolio in Tajikistan comprises 60 projects with a total value exceeding 47.1 billion Japanese Yen, reflecting Japan’s strong and long-term commitment to improving living standards and supporting sustainable development in Tajikistan, including 13.2 billion Japanese Yen allocated to Technical Cooperation and 33.9 billion Japanese Yen provided through Grant Assistance.