DUSHANBE, November 5, Asia-Plus  -- Issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the European bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), investment climate in Tajikistan, progress of public management system reforms, as well as implementation of the EBRD-supported projects in the country were discussed at a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with visiting EBRD Director for Central Asia, Mr. Masaru Honma, in Dushanbe on November 2, presidential press service said.  

           The sides expressed satisfaction with a process of drawing the EBRD credit funds in Tajikistan.  During the meeting it was noted that Tajikistan and EBRD annually sign up to ten investment projects for a total amount of some 20-30 million US dollars, presidential press service said.

Two other projects are expected to be signed before the end of this year.  The projects are, in particular, at resolving the cotton debt crisis in the country and enhancing maintenance of roads and water supply in Khujand and some other regions of Tajikistan.    

Tajikistan became a member of the EBRD in 1992.  Until 1996 the Bank''s operations were limited to technical cooperation.  Since then, the Bank has approved a series of investment projects.  At present 23 EBRD-supposed investment projects for total amount of $85.6 million are being implemented in Tajikistan.  Funds provided by the Bank mainly go to strengthening private sector and supporting commercial banks.