DUSHANBE, June 21, Asia-Plus -- Since the beginning of this month, an exchange rate of USD in Tajikistan has risen by 0.04 Somoni and continues rising.  

According to information from the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), increase in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar in Tajikistan is connected with increase in demand for it and has seasonal character.  According to an expert from the Tajik central bank, such a situation is to be observed in the republic in the summer annually because a number of people leaving the republic and exchanging local currency for USD increases in the summer.  

At the same time, the NBT expert has found it difficult to make any prognosis because of instability of the world currency market.   

“It is sill premature to says whether the USD exchange rate will continue rising in future as well or it will remain the same,” the Asia-Plus interlocutor said, noting that more than 95 percent of mutual accountings in the country have been made in USD.   

According to prognosis provided by the Ministry of Finance, an average exchange rate of USD in Tajikistan will have amounted to 3.24 Somonis this year.  According to information from the NBT, the exchange rate of USD in Tajikistan in June last year amounted to 3.10 Somonis and it had risen by 0.07 Somoni by August 2005, and as of January 1 2006 it amounted to 3.20 Somonis.  As of June 20 2006, the exchange rate of USD in Tajikistan has amounted to 3.27 Somonis. 

The exchange rate of Euro in Tajikistan has risen from 3.78 Somonis in the beginning of this year to 4.13 Somonis to date.  The rate of Russian ruble has also risen since the beginning of the year.