President of the Republic of Tajikistan

Opening Remarks at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank

21.05.2013 11:24, Dushanbe city

In the name of God the Most Merciful, the Compassionate!
Excellencies, Heads of delegations and participants of the meeting!
Dr. Ahmad Mohammad Ali, President of the Islamic Development Bank!
Distinguished guests!
Ladies and gentlemen!

I at the outset would like on behalf of the Government and of the Tajik people to wholeheartedly welcome the participants of the 38th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank to the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan.

We are extremely delighted that the capital of Tajikistan - Dushanbe has become a venue of this high-level and important forum.

Tajikistan as a strong supporter of constructive and fruitful cooperation, being committed to the principles of deep confidence in relationship, as well as to the basics of Islamic integration, has continuously been making great efforts to advance "open doors" policy in its external relations.

Today Tajikistan successfully collaborates with both developed and developing countries, and remains committed to continuing exert necessary efforts to even better promote economic cooperation, which is an important factor in ensuring a lasting peace and genuine stability, both in individual regions and on the global scale.

Dear brothers!

If we take a look back at our past, then we receive an evidence that Islamic countries have for a long time of history been indeed a significant inter-regional link in the economic, political, commercial and cultural relations, thereby playing a key role in shaping the modern system of international relations.

In my view, a decisive factor of the success of this historical process is the commitment to creative spirit, to high principles and values ​​of Islam, and to the preservation of historical and cultural ties, to strengthened unity, solidarity, cooperation and creativity.

Today, strong will, as well as resolute, inflexible determination in action, seems to be of crucial importance for continued implementation of the long-term historical objectives to ensure a decent life in every Muslim country and every family, which is the core in tackling complex and pressing issues of the modern time.

Naturally, our efforts aimed at achieving this noble goal are still facing a number of challenges, however, we – the Muslims have an undeniable need for its implementation. There are all necessary and favorable conditions created to make it reality.

As our nations, along with enormous financial capability, do have also rich natural resources, including water, arable land, energy, minerals, and intellectual might and labor force, as well as traditional and cultural values ​​and rich historical experience of cooperation and partnership.

It testifies that we are able to reach this our great goal. In order to achieve this lofty objective, first of all, prosperity of the Islamic world, not least in terms of its economic, technical, technological and scientific progress should be the fulcrum of the national policy of each state.

I have raised this truth time and again during my statements and speeches from the high tribunes at various forums of the Islamic world, and I today wish to emphasize this point again. Achieving these supreme goals will certainly be possible only if Muslim countries are united and interact effectively, whilst adhering to the core canon of the Holy Qur’an which says "believer is brother of believer."

In this regard, financially powerful countries of the Islamic world have to put a great deal of emphasis on the revitalization of investment activities and the construction of modern economic entities in other developing Muslim countries.

An indisputable logic of this practice is that investor countries can reap large economic benefits from such projects for a long time.

As we have repeatedly pointed out this idea at Islamic summits and forums, with a strong political will and a sense of brotherhood and equality, the capital, as well as funds those are in free circulation and deposited in banks all over the world, should be assigned for the implementation of promising projects of regional significance. In this case, we could, within a relatively short period of time to boost sustainable economic development and to remarkably improve the scale of living of our peoples.

In this respect, the Islamic Development Bank as a major and reliable coordinator could play a leading role and contribute significantly to the promotion of our joint efforts and aspirations.

Distinguished audience!

I in this connection would like to highlight some major aspects of interaction of our countries with the Islamic Development Bank. Tajikistan joined the Bank in December 1996 and has become an active member of this financial institution.

Over this period of time, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has achieved a remarkable progress in addressing social issues, and has put strong steps forward towards sustainable economic growth.

The Islamic Development Bank during these years has delivered sizeable technical assistance to Tajikistan and has allocated preferential loans worth over 191 million U.S. dollars.

In a close cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank, 15 public investment projects, in an amount of more than 64 million U.S. dollars have up to date been fully implemented in Tajikistan.

Education, health care sector, energy, transport, water supply and irrigation today are the most major directions of our collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank.

Efficiency in a mobilization of the funds of the Islamic Development Bank for the implementation of public investment projects is growing from year to year.

I with the great pleasure would like to highlight constructive and fruitful partnership relations of Tajikistan with the Islamic Development Bank. We welcome an intensely growing dynamic of our cooperation with IDB and hope that the parties will take coherent actions in future to even uplift our business links to a qualitatively new level.

Excellencies, governors,

Distinguished participants of the meeting!

It has to be mentioned that the leadership of Tajikistan is making continuous efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, to improve the quality of life of the people, as well as to address existing challenges and differences at the regional level.

Thereby, with the support of international organizations Tajikistan last March hosted the 5th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA 5) the key topics of which have been devoted to the problems of restoration of peace and stability in this neighboring country.

Tajikistan believes large-scale and all-embracing regional cooperation is one of the most important tools of solution of all existing topical socio-economic issues in Asia and could play a notable role in ensuring security and endurable stability in the continent. We throughout more than twenty years of our engagement on the international arena have multiply demonstrated our commitment to such comprehensive partnership relations.

The contribution which Islamic Development Bank makes via investing and fund raising for the implementation of agreements and regional projects to the benefit of the member-states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Islamic Development Bank, corresponds not only to the interests of the Republic of Tajikistan, but meets the expectations of all countries of the region.

In our view, such investment projects, as construction of power transmission line from IDB member-states - Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan, building railroad connecting Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, as well as construction of the road "Dushanbe – Kulyab - Kulma - Karakorum" could be promising areas to which the Islamic Development Bank should, above all, give an utmost attention.

These projects serve priorities of stakeholders of projects, and meet the interests of other member-states of the Islamic Development Bank Group. I am confident, that the IDB will make every effort possible to advance successful completion of these crucial projects.

Distinguished participants of the meeting!

Tajikistan was one of the first countries among the post-Soviet nations that became a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We under this prestigious organization stand always for deepening of relations of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the Islamic world, both on a bilateral basis, and in the format of the Organization and its institutions.

We are of opinion, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation could reinforce its role in addressing urgent challenges the region is facing with. Tajikistan stands ready to contribute to this process to extent possible.

We, relying on the principles of reciprocal fruitful cooperation with development partners and the international community have achieved a remarkable socio-economic and political stability in the country.

This factor is a key pillar of our progress, we have achieved over the past years because no sustainable development growth and the well-being of the population can be provided without socio-economic and political stability.

We have clear road-maps for the future, and our work is carried out on the basis of specific programs.

Successful implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy for 2010-2012 has allowed us to identify priority areas for economic development and to sensibly reduce poverty rate throughout the country.

We presently are carrying out the Living Standards Improvement Strategy of Tajikistan for the years 2013 - 2015, and do strongly believe that an implementation of the given Strategy will contribute to the solution of major social issues today the country facing.

All of our strategies pursue specific goals and objectives. They reflect the mechanisms and timetable of implementation, and most importantly, provide for financial resources for the purposes set forth by these development papers.

We are confident that the Living Standard Improvement Strategy, inshallah, will also be implemented successfully for the good of the people, and the county.

The Tajik Government continuously strives for to create favorable conditions for the attraction of local and foreign investments for the benefit of socio-economic development of the country.

For this purpose, we now work hard to improve a legislation of the country to support the private sector, small- and medium-sized businesses, protect the rights and foster economic security of domestic and foreign investors.

Distinguished delegates!

Cooperation of the Government of our country with the Islamic Development Bank, as well as with the Coordinating Council of the with Development Partners and with international financial organizations and fiscal institutions as a whole in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in raising the level and the quality of life in recent years has given visible results.

The level of poverty in the country in recent years has declined from 81 percent to 38 percent in 2012.

Dynamic of economic development of the country over these years was sustained at the level of 7-9 percent annually. Macroeconomic indices of 2013 preliminary indicate that the growth of the Gross Domestic Product is like to be remained at the rate of 7.4%.

These figures increase our confidence that constructive cooperation with the member-states of the Islamic Development Bank and well-coordinated efforts will bring in much more impressive results.

In conclusion, I wish every success to the 38th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank.

I hope that it will facilitate mutually beneficial and strong partnership relations among the member-states countries of the Islamic Development Bank and encourage more active involvement of the IDB in an implementation of projects aimed at promoting steadfast socio-economic growth of all member countries.

I once again welcome your Excellencies, dignitaries and distinguished IDB Governors to the ancient Tajik soil and sincerely wish a success of the Annual Meeting of the IDB Board of Governors.

May Almighty Allah’s help be with us.

Thank you for your attention!

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