Promoting energy and food security, private sector development and digital transformation – the EDB presents its strategy for Tajikistan until 2026
Dushanbe, 1 December 2022. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) presented its 2022–2026 Country Strategy for Tajikistan. The event brought together representatives of Tajikistan’s ministries and agencies, heads of offices of international organisations, as well as heads and staff of diplomatic missions.
In 2022, a new five-year EDB Strategy took effect, according to which the Bank will strengthen its unique integration role in the EAEU+. The Bank plans to implement at least three key integration mega-projects – the Eurasian Transport Network, the Eurasian Commodity Distribution Network and the Central Asian Water and Energy Complex – in transport infrastructure, logistics, food security, water management and energy.
Ruslan Dalenov, Vice Chairman of the EDB Management Board, noted that a foundation of the Bank’s 2026 strategic model was to ensure breakthrough growth in Tajikistan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.
“We have prepared a strategy for each country of operation to support economic growth and development. In Tajikistan, the Bank will support government programmes and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The EDB will help to meet the challenges facing the country and unlock the potential of its industries and economy as a whole to the benefit of its people,” he stressed.
Ruslan Dalenov also said that the positive macroeconomic outlook would be conducive to implementing the EDB’s strategy in Tajikistan.
“We project Tajikistan’s economy to grow by 6.5% in 2023 and 5.8% in 2024, the highest figure among EDB countries,” he added.
Nikolai Nikulin, EDB Country Director for Tajikistan, spoke about the Bank’s four objectives in the country.
The first objective is to promote energy security The EDB will take part in developing small hydropower and solar energy and in reconstructing power grids.
The second one is ensuring food security and developing agriculture. The EDB aims not only to improve the living standards of people engaged in agriculture by creating jobs and increasing the added value of products, but also to unlock Tajikistan’s potential as an exporter of agricultural produce to the EAEU countries. To this end, the EDB will develop agricultural production and processing, the distribution network and wholesale centres.
Thirdly, the Bank will work to diversify manufacturing and develop the private sector and businesses. It will help to set up industrial enterprises in the country and support small and medium-sized businesses.
The fourth objective is digital transformation. The EDB will support Tajikistan’s digital agenda to strengthen integration ties with Eurasian countries and foster digital development. Its priority will be to support public and corporate digital projects.
“The bank has prepared to implement its plans in Tajikistan. To date, the EDB has built up a project pipeline worth over US $500 million. It has also set up a project team to implement the most complex and demanding projects and intensified the operations of its Technical Assistance Fund and Fund for Digital Initiatives,” said Nikolai Nikulin.
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is an international financial institution promoting integration and development in its member countries. For more than 16 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia and Tajikistan. The EDB's charter capital totals US $7 billion. Its portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and mechanical engineering. The Bank’s operations are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles.
The EDB Media Centre:
Aigerim Akhanova
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