Murodali Alimardonov said that Tajikistan's Central Bank plans to increase its gold and foreign currency reserves in 2007 to meet demand created by growing imports.
"Because imports are growing, we need to provide the market with foreign currency reserves," he said, adding that at the same time the government is working to reduce imports as a way of backing local producers.
Alimardonov earlier said the bank had no plans to significantly increase its gold and foreign currency reserves in 2006, as the country's market "needed a chance to develop."
He said the bank raised the refinancing rate from 11% to 13% through 2006 to control inflation. But as of the first quarter of 2007, it plans to reduce the rate.
Inflation is expected to reach 7% in 2007, down from 12.5% in 2006.