DUSHANBE, November 30, Asia-Plus - Despite a considerable amount of debts accumulated, the Tajik government is not going to discontinue the practice of foreign borrowing, and is planning to borrow another US$1.45 billion.   

A November 30 session of the Tajik government endorsed a number of bills, presidential press service reported.  

The meeting considered more than 20 issues, endorsing programs for improvement of the provision of the population with safe drinking water for 2007-2020, enhancement of the national statistical system for 2007, development of farm produce-processing for 2007-2015, as well as a plan of cultivation of new irrigated lands in Rasht Valley for 2008-2010 and the construction sector development concept for the period till 2012.    

The government also endorsed a prognosis of the priorities of Tajikistan’s monetary policy for 2007 and a draft state foreign-borrowing program for 2007-2009. 

Under the prognosis of the priorities of the country’s monetary policy compared to this year a volume of small loans provided by banks to entrepreneurs in remote mountainous areas in 2007 will increase three times.

The draft state foreign-borrowing program includes 71 loan projects for a total amount of US$1.45 billion, including US$140 million in grants.  

The session also approved the Tajik-Afghan agreement on industrial cooperation.

President Rahmonov ordered the government to start preparations for holding of the CIS summit in Dushanbe in October 2007, take adequate measures to improve passenger transport services in the capital city and speed up work on drafting projects for the construction of the National Public Library and the Republican Lyceum for Talented Children.