DUSHANBE, November 14, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Saudi Fund for Development provides a preferential loan to Tajikistan for rehabilitation of maternity houses in Khujand, Sughd province and purchase of equipment for them, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

The source at a MoF said a loan agreement for 36.75 million Saudi riyals, equivalent to more than 10 million US dollars, was signed in Dushanbe at the end of last week during a meeting of representatives of Tajik ministries of health and finance with visiting mission of the Saudi Fund for Development.  

The loan carrying an annual interest rate of 2 percent is repaid over 25 years with a five-year grace period, the source said.

The sides agreed that repayments will be made semiannually – on May 15 and November 15.