Head of Asian Development Bank to visit Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, November 2 (RIA Novosti) - Haruhiko Kuroda, the president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), an organization that promotes social and economic progress in the Asia Pacific Rim, will visit Tajikistan November 7-9, an ADB official in the Central Asian republic said Wednesday.

Niraj Jane said Kuroda was expected to meet with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov, economic ministers and experts, and foreign diplomats.

Kuroda will also visit the republic's southern region, which was recently hit by floods, and speak to students at the State National University.

This will be Kuroda's first visit since being appointed bank president in February 2005.

Jane praised Tajikistan's performance in the first phase of economic reforms and said the country was prepared to embark on the development of private entrepreneurship.

Since joining the ADB in April 1998, Tajikistan has received about $300 million in loans and grants. In 2005-2008, the republic is expected to receive more loans and technological assistance in rebuilding the road linking Dushanbe, the capital, to the Kyrgyz border, restoring water facilities, developing agriculture, streamlining tax and customs services, and other projects. ADB loans are issued for a 32-year term with a grace period of eight years (1%) and interest thereafter at 1.5%.