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UNDP, Japan to assist in upgrading Tajik-Afghan border checkpoint

4 March 2015 16:43 (UTC+04:00)
UNDP, Japan to assist in upgrading Tajik-Afghan border checkpoint

By Sara Rajabova

The United Nations Development Programme and Japanese government supported the cross-border cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

The UNDP, the Tajik and Japanese governments, as well as Japan International Cooperation Agency signed a new, two and half year project on March 3, the Times of Central Asia reported.

The $4.2 million project will see 160,000 people from Tajikistan and Afghanistan using the target border crossing points and cross border markets benefit from a safer and better run border.

The objective of the project is to create favorable conditions for effective management of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, including modernization of border checkpoints.

The project provides for the construction of a new border crossing point in Langar, in Tajikistan’s South East, the upgrading of five other border crossing points nearby and training for Tajik border and customs officials.

The Japanese government, through the JICA will contribute $3.9 million and UNDP Tajikistan will make up the remaining $0.3 million to implement the project, the UNDP office in Tajikistan said.

Alexander Zuev, UNDP resident representative said with the funding from Japan, this project will help strengthen border management and stability, and make cross-border trade easier for communities in both Tajikistan and Afghanistan. He added that around one hundred border guards and customs officials from Tajikistan will be trained to build more modern, efficient border management systems.

UNDP will work with Tajikistan’s foreign ministry, the main department of border guards of the state committee on national security and local governments in the Khatlon and Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous regions of Tajikistan.

Sirojidin Aslov, Tajikistan’s foreign minister said well managed Tajik-Afghan border is not only in the interests of Tajikistan, but also the entire CIS region.

UNDP and JICA launched the ‘Livelihood Improvement in Tajik-Afghan Cross-border Areas’ project in March 2014 to enhance livelihoods and business development through promotion of cross border cooperation between the Tajik and Afghan communities. The new border management project will give a boost to these existing efforts in the border communities.

Tajikistan and UNDP also signed the fourth phase of project to support to institutional development of the Tajik foreign ministry.

The project is aimed providing assistance for the young workers of the diplomatic services of Tajikistan.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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