Switzerland to allocate $9 million to Tajikistan

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Switzerland will allocate $9 million to Tajikistan for the improvement of its water supply system.

As in all Central Asian states, Switzerland also supports water management in Tajikistan.

The grant agreement was signed by Abdusalom Kurbonov, Tajik finance minister and Peter Mikula, the country director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, AKIpress reported.

The second phase of a water supply project will provide clean drinking water to about 140,000 people in six cities of the northern Sughd province and the city of Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

The total cost of the project stands at more than $18 million. A $9 million grant will be provided by the Swiss government and over $9 million will be contributed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The project includes the installation of additional connections, water meters, the purchase of operation and repair equipment, the construction of new water reservoirs, and the improvement of drainage systems.

The project is scheduled to be implemented by 2018.

The projects water resources management in Tajikistan, drinking water supply and sanitation in the Fergana Valley, and Tajikistan water supply and sanitation project (phase II) are aimed at strengthening water resources management, improving food security, reducing risks of natural disasters associated with water, and financing the investment program to improve the health and well-being of rural population through sustainable drinking water supply and sanitation.

The total cost of the projects stands at 17.5 million Swiss francs on a grant basis: 7.4 million Swiss francs for the water resources management in Tajikistan project, 5 million Swiss francs for the drinking water supply and sanitation in the Fergana Valley project, and 5.1 million Swiss francs for the water supply and sanitation in Tajikistan (phase II) project.

Switzerland, as an important development cooperation donor country in Central Asia, enjoys very good relations with Tajikistan. Tajikistan has been a priority country for Swiss development cooperation since 1997.

Swiss entrepreneurs are involved in Tajikistan’s cotton industry, among other sectors.