Dushanbe, 21.06.2016 / NIAT «Khovar»/. Today, the Founder of Peace and National Unity — the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon attended and delivered speech in the regular session of the National Development Council under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The meeting with the participation of members of the Council, heads of relevant ministries and departments, representatives and experts of the Coordination Council for Development, international and non-governmental organizations and institutions discussed the issues related to the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2030 and the Medium-term Program of Development of Tajikistan for 2016-2020.

In his speech, the Chairman of the National Development Council Emomali Rahmon said that today’s meeting of the Council will cover strategic and, at the same time, relevant country issues, including sustainable development, raising living standards and reducing poverty to the minimum level. According to the President, the documents are considered and developed in the Council’s work in an environment where the situation in a rapidly changing world gets more and more complicated and is exacerbated by the financial and economic crisis in many countries.

It was emphasized that the Government of Tajikistan takes permanent measures in view of strengthening fight against global and regional threats and achieving the strategic objectives, primarily ensuring energy independence, complete withdrawal of the country from communication deadlock and achieving food security. It was highlighted that the leadership of the county is committed to ensure sustainable economic development, promotion of the real sector economy, expanding exports, improving the investment climate and support to entrepreneurship, labor market efficiency, social protection, improving governance and strengthening of human potential.

It was pointed out with satisfaction that through these measures, the poverty rate fell from 53% to 31% in the period 2007-2015, the annual state budget increased from 1.8 billion to 15.7 billion somoni, or almost by 9 times.

The National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2030 and the Medium-term Development Program of Tajikistan for 2016-2020 were presented by the Assistant of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan on Economic Policy Farrukh Hamralizoda and the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the country Nematullo Hikmatullozoda.

Also on the importance of the presented documents speeches were delivered by the Deputy Chairman of the Coordination Council on Development Partners, the Director of the German Development Bank in Tajikistan Ms. Christine Laabs, the UN Resident Coordinator and Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Alexander Zuev, the Head of the EU Delegation in Tajikistan Hidayet Biscevic and the Head of the Regional Office of the Islamic Development Bank in Central Asia Hisham Taleb Maruf. The partners expressed their satisfaction with the measures to achieve the goals of sustainable development adopted by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to date, and reaffirmed their readiness and interest to participate in the practical implementation of the objectives of ensuring the development of Tajikistan.

President Emomali Rahmon in his final speech instructed the Government of the country, other public entities on the basis of long-term development priorities for the period up to 2030 and medium-term development priorities for 2016-2020 to establish fruitful cooperation with local businesses, development partners, foreign investors and other stakeholders, as well as to effectively use all available resources and capacity for the implementation of the set goals and objectives.

It was expressed confidence that the efforts and hard work of the people of the country will lay a solid foundation for the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of the above-mentioned documents and voiced hope that the development partners of Tajikistan will also make a significant contribution to the implementation of the Strategy and the Programme.