DUSHANBE, October 11, 2012, Asia-Plus -- On Wednesday October 10, Turkish Ambassador to Tajikistan Mehmet Munis Dirik, accompanied by Ms. Gulnaz Celik, representative of the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TICA)’s office in Dushanbe and Mr. Ali Vural, Second Secretary, Turkish Embassy in Dushanbe, visited Dushanbe’s Children’s Cancer Center, which is being renovated and refurbished under financial support of TICA.

According to the Turkish Embassy in Dushanbe, the total amount of the project’s budget is one million U.S. dollars.  To-date, renovation work has been completed and on completion of technical re-equipment work, the first Independent Children’s Cancer Center will begin its work.

The project also provides for training courses for medical workers of the center.

Besides, the project for renovating and refurbishing school in the Danghara district, Khatlon province has been implemented under support of TICA.  The TICA-supported project for renovation and refurbishment of the Vocational Training Center at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection is also nearing completion.

Established in 1992, the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency is a government department of the Prime Ministry of Turkey.  TICA is responsible for organization of the bulk of Turkey''s official development assistance to developing countries.  With coordination offices in 20 countries and operations in Africa, Asia and Europe, TICA delivers development assistance to beneficiary countries with a mission to create peaceful climate, implement macro-projects in developing regions, and facilitate global cooperation on the issues of development.  In providing its development assistance, TICA partners with a number of international organizations, including the UN, OECD, and the EU institutions.

Categories of the development assistance provided by TICA include the following: technical cooperation projects, direct investments, loans and credits, humanitarian assistance, peace building, and contributions to international organizations to support international joint efforts.