Ms. Sarah Rinaldi, Head of Unit for the Middle East & Central Asia in the European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships, visited Tajikistan to co-chair the 3rd European Union – Tajikistan Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation. In this annual meeting representatives of the EU and the Government of Tajikistan discussed cooperation in the context of the EU’s 2021-2027 bilateral programme for Tajikistan and other areas of ongoing cooperation, including regional programmes such as the two Team Europe Initiatives on Water-Energy-Climate Change, and Digital Connectivity.

EU Delegation

Ms. Rinaldi co-chaired the Sub-Committee together with H.E. Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the EU to Tajikistan, and Mr. Ashurboy Solehzoda, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan.

Together with H.E. Faiziddin Qahorzoda, Minister of Finance, Ms Rinaldi also co-chaired the first Steering Committee for the EUR 30 million budget support programme which the EU launched recently for developing Tajikistan’s TVET and employment sectors. Furthermore, she held several meetings with government representatives and development partners.

Visits to the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Project on the Vakhsh river, as well as EU-funded projects in support of youth education, skills and employment in the Rasht Valley provided an excellent opportunity to illustrate the scope and nature of EU engagement in Tajikistan.

The Sub-Committee and the visit reaffirmed the strong EU-Tajikistan relations and allowed for fruitful discussions on how to further enhance efficiency and strengthen cooperation under current and future programmes.