DUSHANBE, December 10, 2014, Asia-Plus – International Finance Corporation (IFC) is expanding its advisory program on food safety in Tajikistan, helping local food producers increase productivity, sales, and access to local and international markets.

IFC Dushanbe Office says IFC will work with Tajik producers to improve measures throughout the cycle of food production and processing to ensure products are safe for consumption.

In its first event under the new program, IFC yesterday brought together more than 20 food businesses and industry experts to learn modern food safety practices and standards.

“Implementation of internationally recognized food safety management systems is crucial to helping Tajik producers grow sustainably and enter regional and global markets,” said Shahlo Atokhojayeva, Food Safety Inspector at Dilpisand Ltd.  “It will also help companies reduce operations costs, become more profitable, which in turn raises their attractiveness for foreign investors.”

Olga Sherbina, IFC Project Manager, said: “Tajikistan has significant potential in agribusiness development. However, to increase food production domestically and expand to new markets, Tajik companies must improve their food safety management systems.  IFC will work with companies to showcase the benefits of the internationally recognized standards and also assist in implementing these standards at several pilot companies.”

Supported by the Austrian Finance Ministry, IFC’s Agribusiness Standards Advisory Program in Europe and Central Asia has helped attract more than $156 million of investment in over 80 IFC clients in Europe and Central Asia, generating $323 million in increased sales, in addition to greater efficiency and cost savings and improved waste and risk management and brand value.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in about 100 countries, it uses its capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. In FY14, IFC reportedly provided more than $22 billion in financing to improve lives in developing countries and tackle the most urgent challenges of development.