The Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zavqqi Zavqizoda has asked Ms. Sezin Sinanoglu, UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan, to increase support of the United Nations and its agencies active in the country for implementation of strategic goals and priorities of the Tajik government, according to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) press center.  

The minister reportedly raised this issue at his meeting with Ms. Sezin Sinanoglu that took place in Dushanbe on August 21.  

During the meeting, the two discussed measures taken by the Tajik government and UN plans on preventing the impact of external threats, particularly the coronavirus pandemic, on the country’s economy.  

Ms. Sinanoglu reportedly presented the program of integrated socio-economic measures of response to COVID-19 in Tajikistan.  

She noted that the program with a total budget of more than 61 million U.S. dollars focused on five key areas: health care first; protection of people; macroeconomic measures; reconstruction of economy and means of subsistence; and social solidarity.  

The two expressed readiness for further expansion of cooperation in mitigating or preventing negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the country’s economy.  

UNDP has been supporting Tajikistan since the very early stages of this crisis.  It is closely working with the authorities, as part of the UN and development partners' common response, to assist the procurement of critical medical supplies, assess the longer-term recovery needs and help the country develop a multi-sectoral inclusive response to the pandemic to protect its people and economy leaving no one behind.