Russia pledges $6.7 mln to improve welfare of Tajik rural residents
DUSHANBE. Dec 4 (Interfax) - Russia will allocate to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) $6.7 million for a project to improve the welfare of rural residents in a number of areas across Tajikistan, the republic's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade said on Thursday.
The project, which will run in 2015-2017, will cover nine areas in the Sughd Region in northern Tajikistan.
"The new project, aimed at Improving the welfare of the population of nine districts of Tajikistan, and funded by Russia, promotes sustainable economic development in isolated districts of Tajikistan," said Shrarif Rahimzoda, the Economic Development Minister, according to the ministry's spokesperson.
The project will involve efforts to improve the business climate, to develop enterprise, to provide microloans to the private sector, and to stimulate job creation and professional training of specialists, the Tajik minister said.
"The project will assist local authorities in efficient planning and monitoring of the socio-economic development through development and renewal of local development programs and implementation of about 50 priority initiative arising from these programs," Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Igor Frolov said, for his part.
Russia is one of the main donors in the UN's program in Tajikistan. It was reported in September 2014 that Russia had transferred to the UN World Food Program (WFP) $5 million intended for medical treatment and food distribution in 66 Tajik districts.
According to the World Bank, 47.2% of Tajikistan's 8-milion population live below the poverty line, while the share of GPD (Gross Domestic Product) per capita in 2013 stood at $1,050, the lowest among the post-Soviet countries.