DUSHANBE, September 27, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday September 25, representatives from Tajik economic team met with representatives from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to discuss a progress of implementation of joint projects in Tajikistan, Asia-Plus has learned at the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT).  

The Tajik side was represented by Matlubkhon Davlatov, State Adviser to the Tajik President for Economic Matters, Safarali Najmuddinov, Finance Minister, Sharif Rahimzoda, Chairman of the State Committee for Investments and Management of State-owned Property, and Murodali Alimardonov, Chairman of the NBT, and DFID was represented by Sue Wardel, Director of the Europe, Middle East, Americas and Asia Division, and Pauline Hayes, Head of the Europe and Central Asia Department.  

The Europe and Central Asia Department is responsible for DFID-supported activity in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

In the course of the talks Davlatov briefed the DFID officials on the present socioeconomic situation in Tajikistan, investment climate, priorities and main directions of development of production, as well as construction of hydropower plants.  

For her part, Ms. Wardel noted that the DFID office in Tajikistan has successfully worked in partnership with other donors and the Tajik government on supporting implementation of programs aimed at alleviating poverty in the republic.  

The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain''s aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty.

Tajikistan is one of DFID’s focal countries in the 2004-2007 Regional Assistance Plan for Central Asia.  DFID has been present in Tajikistan since 2003 and is working with the Government and donors to support the eradication of poverty and promote sustainable development.

DFID has provided £6.3 million to Tajikistan during the period 2003 to 2007, with an allocation of £3.5 million for 2006-2007. Its program has focused on the following areas: raising living standards and integrating the Zarafshan Valley into the national economy through "Pro-poor" regional development (implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)); developing the Micro and Small Enterprise Facility in Tajikistan (TMSEF) through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); the resolution of land and property disputes through Third Party Arbitration Courts (TPAC);  supporting the World Bank''s National Social Investment Fund (NSIFT);   and, Providing technical assistance to the Government''s Poverty Reduction Strategy Process (PRSP) and Medium Term Budget Framework (MTEF).

In addition, DFID provides regional support to HIV/AIDS programs in the country, a part of which is the promotion of harm reduction activities for high-risk groups. The program will complement World Bank and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional HIV/AIDS projects by supporting the implementation of the Government’s own strategies.

DFID works through other donor agencies and supports the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. Our program focuses on the two core areas of governance and economic growth.