DUSHANBE, March 17, Asia-Plus  -- Over the past month (from mid-February to mid-March), closed joint-stock company Tajikistan Development Bank (TDB) has provided more than 1.71 million somonis (TJS) in loans to farming units, Asia-Plus has learned from Zarafshon Mardonova, a spokeswoman for TDB.  

According to her, over the report period, the bank has concluded contracts with farming units for a total amount of 5.4 million somonis (equivalent to more than $1.5 million).  The first tranche of 1, 710,500 somonis ($495,800) has already been paid to farms, the spokeswoman said.  

 “Loans are provided to farming units in the districts of Bokhtar, Vakhsh, Jomi, Yovon, Jilikul, Panj, Sarband and Rudaki,” Mardonova said, noting that priority is given to the cotton sector.  

Two working groups have been set up for providing loans in the provinces, Mardonova added.  

Established in September 2006, Tajikistan Development Bank, with headquarters in Dushanbe, has actively worked since November 7, 2006.  The bank offers a broad range of services, including accepting deposits in national and foreign currencies, cash operations, providing short-term and long-term loans, etc.  The bank’s stockholders include Tajiks as well as foreign citizens. 

The bank’s declared capital doubled in the year to February 29, 2008, reaching 59,999,900 somonis.