DUSHANBE, March 12, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Director General of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Juan Miranda, accompanied by Deputy Director General Werner Liepach, and Senior Adviser Tatsuya Kanai will arrive in Tajikistan on March 15 to have talks with senior government officials and donors, according to ADB’s Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM).

Mr. Miranda, who joined ADB in 2004, is the Director General of the Central and West Asia Department covering 10 countries – Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Deputy Director General Werner Liepach joined the Bank in 1992; and Mr. Kanai in 2008.

During the stay, Mr. Miranda and his team will meet with President Emomali Rahmon, and senior government officials to discuss ADB’s assistance program in the country, which focuses on strengthening regional cooperation through improving energy and transport infrastructure, and private sector development.

On March 16, the delegation will depart for Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, and to date has received total assistance of about $560 million in concessional loans, grants and technical assistance from this institution. ADB''s grant assistance package to Tajikistan for 2010 is about $74 million. The assistance program is expected to support energy and private sector development.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region.