DUSHANBE, April 29, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today received Mr. Philippe Le Houérou, Vice-President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia Region.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Rahmon, Mr. Le Houerou noted that he considered his first visit to Tajikistan successful.  According to him, under the World Bank’s Country Assistance Strategies for Tajikistan 35 projects for some US$500 million have been implemented to promote Tajikistan’s economic development and enhance the country’s agrarian, education and health sectors.

He noted that they discussed prospects of cooperation between the World Bank and the Government of Tajikistan for the next three years.

Mr. Le Houerou said that he together with Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov visited the site for construction of the Roghun HPP yesterday.  “I see with my own eyes that only recovery work is currently being carried out there,” he noted.

According to him, further construction of the station, which is potentially profitable project for the entire Central Asian region, may continue after the appropriate assessment studies.  “We also discussed the water-and-energy situation in Central Asia and our experts who are currently on the Roghun site support only the recovery work at this facility,” the WB official stressed.

He also noted that rational macroeconomic policy conducted by the government of Tajikistan during the global financial crisis had allowed mitigating the crisis effects.

Philippe Le Houérou became Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Region in August, 2009.  Le Houerou joined the World Bank as part of its Young Professional program and has worked in the East Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe and Central Asia Regions.  In the mid-1990s, he served as country economist for the Russia program and advised on budget management and public expenditure issues.  After Russia, Le Houerou worked on poverty and economic issues in southern Africa, including a stint as the Antananarivo-based country manager for Madagascar, where he supported the government’s reform program and opening up of its economy.

In May 2006, Le Houerou was asked to take on the task of coordinating the World Bank’s effort of working with donor countries to replenish the International Development Association (IDA) - the Bank’s concessionary loan arm that supports anti-poverty programs in the poorest developing countries with long-term, no interest loans.

As Vice President for the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Region, Le Houerou oversees a region that loaned $9 billion last year to a range of borrowing countries as diverse as Croatia and Tajikistan.  In his new capacity, he supervises 800+ staff working in headquarters and 22 country offices who serve some 30 countries.