At the 10th meeting of the Cooperation Committee between Tajikistan and the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, the parties agreed to increase funding for priority projects in Tajikistan

  

On November 27, 2023, in Brussels, Belgium, the tenth meeting of the Committee on Cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union was co-chaired by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zavqizoda Zavqi Amin and the Head of the Department of Central Asia, the European Commission, Luc Devin.

At the beginning of the meeting, Zavqizoda Z. A. noted that the Republic of Tajikistan considers the European Union a reliable and important partner in achieving the country’s strategic goals.

Especially the European Union has allocated 345 million euros since 2012 for the development of economic sectors of the Republic of Tajikistan and in 2022 the volume of bilateral trade increased by 12.5%, reaching $490 million.

In this regard, the meeting of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, within the framework of the Summit of the European Union and Heads of State of Central Asia opened a new page in the expansion of bilateral cooperation.

According to the agenda of the meeting, the parties expressed special attention to strengthening cooperation in priority areas, including trade and economy, green economy, investment, industry, digitalization, budget support, education, healthcare, border security, regional integration, joining the GSP+ system, environmental protection and climate change, water management, human rights and the rule of law in the Republic of Tajikistan.

Zavqizoda Z. A. provided brief information on the achievements of the Republic of Tajikistan in the mentioned areas and appealed to the European Union with a request to increase funding for priority sectors of the Republic of Tajikistan, including green energy, especially the construction of hydroelectric power plants, industry, agriculture, transport and logistics, digitalization and border strengthening .

The European Union highly appreciated the achievements of the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of economic and social development and expressed its readiness to allocate funding to these priority sectors.

In turn, the European Union announced that within the first stage of the European Union Indicative Program for 2021-2024, 91 million euros will be allocated to priority areas of Tajikistan.

In response to Tajikistan's request, the European Union has renewed budgetary support for the country, allocating €30 million in budget support, of which €4 million has already been allocated, and has also launched additional supply chain development projects in the textile sector "Ready for Trade" and energy sector reforms for the general the amount of 64.5 million euros.

Detailed information was also provided on the significant economic, social and environmental benefits of the Roghun hydroelectric power station for the development of the Republic of Tajikistan and the region, and the European Union was invited to provide funds for the construction of this major facility.

In addition, 80 million euros were allocated from regional funds for priority projects in Tajikistan, including the BOMCA and CADAP projects.

Also during this meeting, it was reported that the new Multiannual Indicative Program of the European Union for 2024-2027 is under development, and the amount of funding will be determined in 2024.

At the same time, the Republic of Tajikistan proposed several priority projects to the European Union for financing, including the projects “Strategy for the development of a green economy in the Republic of Tajikistan”, “Medium-term program for the development of the digital economy in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2021-2025”, “Development of social infrastructure”, “Program on preventing the spread of drug addiction in Central Asia (CADAP-7)" and "Creation of multifunctional communication technologies between the structures of the border troops of the State Committee for National Security."

In addition, the parties positively assessed the progress in preparing the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union and emphasized the need to speed up the approval process.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Republic of Tajikistan, in particular the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Kingdom of Belgium Huseinzoda Muzaffar, Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources Safarzoda Manuchehr, Head of the Human Rights Department of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Orzuzoda Firuz and Head of the Department of Foreign Economic Cooperation of the Ministry Economic Development and Trade Dilshod Sharifi, as well as from the European Union, the Head of the Office of the Middle East/Gulf and Central Asia, Director General for International Partnerships of the European Commission, Sarah Rinaldi, as well as the Head of the Office of Central Asia and the External Action Service of Europe, Dietmar Crissler, participated.