For Immediate Release
Press Release
Dushanbe, Tajikistan, April 18, 2024 – The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a new initiative that will support long-term economic opportunities in Tajikistan. USAID’s new five-year, $18 million Employment and Enterprise Development Activity (EEDA) will catalyze sustainable development and inclusive economic opportunities in Tajikistan.
EEDA will partner with firms to improve the productivity in textile, food processing and IT sectors through the adoption of innovative, green technologies, increased investment, and market linkages. It will create 5,000 permanent jobs; assist 200 business start-ups in accessing finance; and leverage $10 million in private sector investment.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, USAID Tajikistan Mission Director Peter Riley noted, “It is crucial to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and create sustainable employment opportunities within the public and private entities. These partnerships underscore the shared goal of advancing Tajikistan’s economic landscape and ensuring prosperity for all stakeholders.”
Art Gandilyan, ACDI-VOCA Home Office Representative noted: “The activity will focus on sustainability by a) establishing commercial relationships that continue after the project ends; b) creating economic motivation for the private sector to co-invest, and c) building partnerships around end markets that bring resources to invest in market systems expansion.
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USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a lead actor driving development results. For more information, visit the USAID/Tajikistan website: https://www.usaid.gov/tajikistan and the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/USAIDTajikistan/.