BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has started diagnostics in preparation for a new country strategy for Tajikistan, the Regional Head of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan for the EBRD, Ayten Rustamova told Trend.
“Our activity in Tajikistan rests on the country strategy approved in 2020 and developed jointly with the government. It is helping to boost the resilience, modernization, and regional integration of the national economy. We have also started country diagnostics in preparation for a new country strategy,” she said.
Rustamova pointed out that last year, the EBRD marked 30 years of operations in Tajikistan.
“Over these years, we have enjoyed excellent cooperation with the authorities, both central and regional, and the business community. This allowed us to invest nearly 990 million euros in almost 170 projects in Tajikistan during this period. Our funds have supported good entrepreneurial initiative and essential upgrades in various sectors ranging from energy, water, and transport to banking and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),” she said.
The regional head noted that during the visit of EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso to Tajikistan in late April, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the EBRD and the National Bank of Tajikistan to develop the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (WE Finance Code).
“This is a commitment by providers of financial services, regulators, development banks, and other stakeholders to jointly increase financial assistance to women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises. Most recently, at the Bank’s Annual Meeting, the EBRD signed deals collectively worth $15 million with Tajikistan's bank Arvand and the microlender HUMO. They will use funds to promote green lending and support women and youth entrepreneurship in Tajikistan,” she said.