DUSHANBE, February 8, Asia-Plus  -- The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) at the end of January issued a resolution making amendment to the regulations on microloan organizations.  The amendment requires increasing the maximal amount of microloans from $20,000 to $50,000.  

The source at Tajik central bank noted that changes had been made to promote further development of microlaoning as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country with regard for instructions of the head of state.

We will recall that speaking at a January 25-56 government meeting, the president tasked administrations of Tajik central bank and commercial banks to open their branches in all regions and increase amounts of loans provided to small and medium-sized enterprises.  He noted that the government had provided 110 million somonis to commercial banks to enhance their microfinance opportunities.  These funds will go to providing loans, first of all, to cotton-growing farms at 14 percent annual interest.

According to central bank, some 228,380 microloans totaling more than 1 billion somonis were provided last year, which is nearly two time more than in 2006.  Of this amount, 345.3 million somonis were provided to enhance the agrarian sector.