The Government of Tajikistan, represented by Finance Minister Faiziddin Qahhorzoda, and the OPEC Fund, led by CEO Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, recently signed two loan agreements totaling $18 mn on December 20. The agreements aim to support key projects in education and road rehabilitation in Tajikistan, Asia Plus reported.
The first loan, amounting to $8 mn, will contribute to the implementation of Tajikistan's National Education Development Strategy. This project focuses on enhancing the educational environment and the overall education system by updating school infrastructure, expanding access, providing continuous professional training for teachers, and introducing a national system for assessing educational achievements.
The National Education Development Strategy project, co-financed with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), is expected to benefit nearly 17,000 students in Tajikistan. It aims to establish a high-quality and accessible educational system with modern infrastructure and innovative technologies, improving the learning experience for both teachers and students.
The second loan, totaling $10 mn, is designated for co-financing the Guliston-Farkhor-Panj-Dousti Road Rehabilitation Project. This initiative targets the improvement of Tajikistan's road network quality and efficiency, contributing to the country's international transit potential.
The Guliston-Farkhor-Panj-Dousti Road Rehabilitation Project will fund the upgrading of a 30 km road section, crucial for internal connectivity between the south and southeast regions of Tajikistan. This road also plays a vital role in transit traffic for the Afghanistan-Tajikistan-China road corridor. The project aims to enhance regional connectivity, ensure the safe movement of goods and people, and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the country.
Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, Director-General of the OPEC Fund, expressed the institution's commitment to supporting Tajikistan's development efforts. He emphasized the importance of building modern social and physical infrastructure for the country's future socio-economic development. The OPEC Fund has a longstanding partnership with Tajikistan, having approved 17 projects to date across various sectors, including transport, health, education, energy, and water.
This year marks the 26th anniversary of the OPEC Fund's cooperation with Tajikistan, and its support has significantly contributed to the country's transportation sector, with additional contributions to health and education initiatives. The OPEC Fund for International Development, established in 1976, operates as an intergovernmental development finance institution, fostering financial cooperation between OPEC member nations and other developing countries to promote socio-economic development and eradicate poverty. The institution is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)