DUSHANBE, July 20, Asia-Plus -- Tajik Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov told a news conference in Dushanbe on July 19 that Tajikistan''s national debt has stood at US$828 million as of July 1 2006, which is US$66.9 million fewer compared to the beginning of this year.

According to him, the country’s external has reduced due to write-off by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of US$99 million. 

“Tajikistan''s chief creditors remains the World Bank (WB), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB),” Mr. Najmuddinov said.

“As far as a total volume of foreign investment is concerned, 33 national investment projects for a total amount of US$126 million have to date been implemented in the country,” said the minister, “The republic has invested in 23 of these projects.”

The minister also added that those projects were aimed at rehabilitation of roads, enhancement of education, health, energy and agrarian sectors as well as development of the social security of the population.