EU to allocate 16 million euros to build a bridge between Tajikistan and Afghanistan

Almaty. July 13. Silkroadnews – The European Union will allocate 16 million euros to build a bridge between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, Tajik Telegraph Agency (TajikTA) reports on Thursday.
“A 16-million euro project of building a bridge between Tajikistan and Afghanistan will be financed by the European Union. This was said during the EU delegation’s visit to the Shamsiddin Shohin distric (former Shuro-obod district) on the Tajik-Afghan border (south of Tajikistan) to mark the construction beginning in the Farhor region”, European Union representative in the Republic of Tajikistan informs.
The project, previously agreed with the governments of Tajikistan and Afghanistan is aimed to restore roads and strengthen the banks of the border river. Its implementation is expected to assist to development of the local private sectors and markets, contributing to peace, stability and trade facilitation in the region. The project will be implemented by the Aga Khan Development Network and the PATRIP Foundation (The Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Regional Integration Program). The EU delegation includes Stefano Manservisi, the European Commission Director-General for International Cooperation and Development, and Peter Burian, EU Special Representative for Central Asia.
To remind, the EU delegation arrived in Tajikistan to study current relations between the EU and Tajikistan, in particular, on the process of implementing a new strategy for Tajikistan development in 2016-2030.
At the meeting with Tajikistan’s president Emomali Rahmon EU delegation discussed prospects of cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union. The meetings were also held with first deputy prime minister Davlatali Said, representatives of the ministries of economic development and trade, and finance, as well as the first deputy chairman of the National Bank.
The EU reaffirmed its support for Tajikistan in implementing reforms and Tajikistan’s National Development Strategy of Tajikistan as a part of its financial and technical assistance focused on the health, education and rural development sectors.
The European Union’s Indicative Program 2014-2020, providing allocation of 251 million euros to Tajikistan in three main areas of cooperation: health, education and rural development, was noted to be important for the improvement of partnership.