Tajikistan received €91 million from the European Union as part of the implementation of the first phase of the Multiannual Indicative Program (MIP) from 2021 to 2024 for priority projects. This information was provided by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan following the meeting of the subcommittee on cooperation development between the country and the EU, TASS reports.
During the meeting, EU representatives stated that "a new EU MIP project for 2024-2027 is under development, and its financing volume will be determined in 2024," according to the ministry's statement. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Economic Development of Tajikistan, Ashurboi Solehzoda, and the EU Ambassador to Tajikistan, Raimundas Karoblis, and the parties "expressed readiness to expand mutually beneficial cooperation."
The Ministry of Economic Development added that the volume of mutual trade between Tajikistan and the European Union in 2023 amounted to $401.5 million. Earlier, the ministry reported that the trade volume with the EU in 2022 was $490 million. Thus, in 2023, it decreased by 22%.
During the meeting, EU representatives expressed readiness to allocate a €45 million grant to Tajikistan for energy projects, as reported by the Khovar agency. Additionally, according to the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan, Minister Kurbon Hakimzoda held a separate meeting with members of the EU delegation.
"The Minister provided information on the development of the industry, production potential, and export of environmentally friendly products. The EU representative Sara Rinaldi (Head of the European Commission's Middle East and Central Asia Division) expressed interest in fruitful cooperation and the implementation of various projects in the agricultural sector," noted the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan.
The EU MIP was adopted in 2014 for Central Asian countries. In Tajikistan, according to the EU representation, funds from the last implemented phase of the MIP were intended for the development of the digital economy, projects for human capital development, and the rational use of natural resources.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
March 14, 2024