DUSHANBE, April 3, 2008 – The World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Mr. Shigeo Katsu visited Dushanbe on March 27, 2008. Mr. Katsu, who was joined by Ms. Annette Dixon, the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia, and Ms. Chiara Bronchi, the World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan, met with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and members of the Government.  Mr. Katsu and President Rahmon discussed steps which the Government of Tajikistan could take to improve Tajikistan's opportunities to attract much-needed foreign investment and donor support, in the aftermath of the severe winter energy crisis and the recent case of mis-reporting by the National Bank of Tajikistan to the International Financial Institutions. Vice President Shigeo Katsu said his discussions with the President were encouraging. They agreed that the World Bank would continue to work closely with the Government to implement key reforms in the financial sector, public financial management, state-owned enterprises, agriculture and energy.  The Republic of Tajikistan became a member of the World Bank on June 4, 1993. The financial assistance committed to Tajikistan to date amounts to nearly US$450 million, in the form of grants and concessional credits. The current portfolio of the World Bank in the country consists of 13 active projects.  The World Bank’s overall mission in Tajikistan is to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and encourage a better quality of life. To date, the Bank has supported projects and carried out non-lending activities aimed at agriculture and rural development, health, education, social security, energy, water resources, infrastructure rehabilitation, and disaster management, among other things. The Bank’s assistance, in the form of soft loans, has helped the country rebuild the infrastructure destroyed during the civil war and has supported economic reforms. Â
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