Asian Development Bank to support Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, November 8 (RIA Novosti) - The president of the Asian Development Bank, Haruhiko Kuroda, and president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rakhmonov, met to discuss ADB support for this Central Asian country, the Tajik leader's press service said Tuesday.

In 2005-2008, the Manila-based bank, which was established to reduce poverty in the Asia-Pacific region, will grant loans and provide technical aid to Tajikistan to rebuild roads and energy systems, develop agriculture and modernize tax and customs bodies.

Since 1998, Tajikistan, which had an estimated GDP per capita of $1,100 in 2004, has received $300 million in grants and loans from ADB.