DUSHANBE (Avesta news Agnecy) — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will increase investments to $200 mln in Tajikistan this year, the Tajik central bank said Wednesday. Last year the bank increased investments in Tajikistan to a record $75 mln.

The issue was discussed here Tuesday during a meeting between Jamoliddin Nuraliev, first deputy head of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) and Masaru Honma, the EBRD director for Central Asia and Mongolia.

In 2015, the EBRD expects to invest about $200 mln to some high-profile projects of regional importance, including the modernization of Tajikistan’s electricity transmission infrastructure. “The EBRD plans to invest about $200 mln in Tajikistan and is ready to establish bilateral cooperation with all Tajik banks for the purpose of supporting them”, said Honma.

At the meeting, Nuraliev and Honma also discussed a number of issues related to enhancement of Tajikistan’s financial sector, including the current problems and existing opportunities. They deliberated Tajik central bank’s strategy for development of the country’s banking sector.

In July, 2015, the EBRD approved a new country strategy with Tajikistan for the next four years. Honma said the EBRD delegation will arrive in Tajikistan next month to discuss issues of providing technical support and loans to Tajikistan’s banking sector.

The bank’s main priorities in the country will be: enabling economic growth by supporting expansion of private enterprise, notably small and medium-sized enterprises, and helping improve the business environment, improving public utility services, as well as their operational and financial efficiency, through commercialization and corporatization, and fostering regional connectivity and economic integration.