DUSHANBE, March 9, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The British Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Trevor Moore, visited Panjakent, Sughd province on March 2-4, accompanied by the Head of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in Tajikistan, Mr. Bob Leverington, Ms Gaia Allison, Rural Growth specialist, DFID and Mr. Rastislav Vrbensky Country Director, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Tajikistan, according to the UK Embassy in Dushanbe.

The team reviewed the support that DFID and UNDP have provided under the Zarafshan Valley Initiative (ZVI), and discussed the enhanced support that will be made available through the new Rural Growth Program, which DFID, UNDP and the German Aid Organization (GTZ) will implement together.

Under ZVI UNDP and DFID have been working closely with local government and communities in Panjakent, Ayni and Kohistoni Mastchoh to improve the planning and implementation of District Development Plans and to support small businesses though loans and specialist technical advice.

On March 2, the team members were briefed by the Chairman of Panjakent District Mr. Hisrav Abdunazarov about the impressive achievements realized by ZVI.   The Mayor expressed his gratitude to the support shown by the British Government and expressed his willingness to see expanded collaboration in the future.   The Mayor took the team to the inauguration ceremony of a food and fruit processing factory that had been established through a business loan from the ZVI program.   The facility will process fruits, juices and vegetables from the Zarafshon valley for sale locally and in Dushanbe .   The delegation also visited a green house, built with a business loan again through the ZVI program. The green house has produced high quality vegetables, particularly tomatoes and radishes.

The loans had been secured from the Micro Loan Fund “Rushdi Vodii Zarafshon” (RVZ), which manages a portfolio worth over $3 million (some 15 million somoni) and which was also established through ZVI. Together with the head of RVZ the team visited a women’s cooperative making and selling traditional Tajik clothing; a dressmaking business and carpentry shop, all of which had been successfully established through RVZ business loans. Alongside these loans ZVI has also provided technical training and business advice.

On March 3, Mr Trevor Moore accompanied by the DFID and UNDP heads visited the District Employment Centre and were briefed on the wide range of courses and training that are being taught at the centre and which will help people establish or expand small businesses, or become more employable. Courses include dressmaking, catering, IT skills and welding.

The team met with representatives of the Business Advisory Centers “Devashtich” from Panjakent district and “Komron” from Ayni district. These Centers have been established with the support of ZVI and provide business advice to entrepreneurs. They have helped a number of local businesses develop Business Plans that have contributed to increased profits and helped them secure business loans.

On March 4, Mr. Trevor Moore separately visited the local independent TV station “Simo”.   The director of the station Mr. Abdumain Juraev, gave detailed information about TV “Simo” and its current activities.

The Ambassador’s tour ended with a meeting with representatives of local civil society organizations at the Civil Society Support Center “Zanoni Sharq (Woman of the Orient)”, with whom the status of local NGOs and future cooperation issues were discussed.

In July 2002 Under Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mr. John Mc. Gregory visited Tajikistan . As a result of his visit the British Department for International Development (DFID) opened an office in Tajikistan . DFID is the British Government department responsible for international development assistance. Since 2002 DFID has supported a wide range of programs in the fields of rural livelihoods, private sector development, public finance management and health.

Zarafshan Valley Initiative (ZVI) was a project co-funded by DFID and UNDP and implemented in 2006-2009. The overall objective of the ZVI was to decrease poverty and improve living standards for the Valley inhabitants, in all 24 of its Jamoats, by building and reviving the local economy, fostering strong social integration and supportive social services, maintaining good government for the people, and building communities around people’s needs.

The Rural Growth Program (RGP) is a program co-funded by DFID, UNDP and GTZ. The RGP (2010-2012) builds on the ZVI’s successes and addresses the governance environment for private sector development, as well as directly supporting the private sector through improved technical and business advisory services and improved access to a range of financial products.