Tajikistan plans to enter international financial market with assistance from investment bank Oppenheimer

DUSHANBE. Sept 17 (Interfax) - The Tajik Finance Ministry and one of the world's oldest investment banks, Oppenheimer & Co, have signed a memorandum on developing cooperation, the ministry said.

The document was signed in London by Finance Minister Faiziddin Qahhorzoda and the head of Oppenheimer & Co, Massimiliano Lami.

"Within the framework of this memorandum, the parties will cooperate to improve the country's international credit and export ratings, as well as Tajikistan's entry into global financial markets," the ministry said.

Qahhorzoda also held meetings and talks with the vice chairman of the investment bank Citigroup, William Weaver, the head of the debt capital markets division of JPMorgan for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Stefan Weiler, and an executive vice president of the investment company PIMCO, Brian Holmes.

The representatives of the management of JPMorgan and PIMCO "expressed readiness to cooperate with Tajikistan in the direction of issuing securities on international capital markets with various maturities," the ministry said.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. is a financial and investment company founded in 1881. It is part of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. and is engaged in investment banking services and brokerage operations.

In summer this year, the Tajik Finance Ministry announced plans to prepare the basis for introducing debt instruments in order to implement national development priorities. In particular, the ministry announced preparations for the issuance of quasi-sovereign bonds with the support of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).