DUSHANBE, September 17, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Since the beginning of this year, the Government of Tajikistan has signed nineteen agreements with international financial institutions and donor organizations for a total of 358 million U.S. dollars, Finance Minister Safarali Najmiddinov told reporters in Dushanbe on September 16.

According to him, grants accounted for 61 percent (US$218 million) of the overall amount.  “Until the end of the year, we plan to sign six other agreements for a total of 261 million U.S. dollars,” the minister said.

The government is currently conducting negotiations on allocation of 37 million U.S. dollars for construction of the Khujand-Ayni power transmission line, 20 million U.S. dollars for implementation of the third phase of the Shagon-Zighar road rehabilitation project (Islamic Development Bank), 34 million U.S. dollars to support the country’s budget (Asian Development Bank) and so forth, Najmiddinov noted.

On the country’s economic situation, the minister noted that the economic situation will considerably improve in the coming four months compared to the first eight months of the year.