PRESIDENT EMOMALI RAHMON MEETS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BANK

              Dushanbe, May 8. (NIAT "Khovar"). — Today President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan met with the Vice President of the World Bank Shigeo Katsu.               As the Presidential Press Office informed the "Khovar" news agency, at the meeting, issues of Tajikistan's multi-faceted cooperation with this influential international financial institute were discussed.              A fruitful talk took place concerning the indices of the country's macroeconomic development, undertaking steps towards minimizing the impact of the global financial and economic crisis, rendering support to Tajikistan's state budget and commercial banks, promoting private entrepreneurship, solving the problem of cotton-growers' debts, as well the use of Tajikistan's hydro-power resources and their significance for the Central Asian region.             President Emomali Rahmon expressed gratitude to the management of the World Bank for granting US $20m to support Tajikistan's state budget and other US $14m to mitigate the consequences of the global foods crisis.              Shigeo Katsu said that, considering the emergence of new financial sources, the World Bank and other donor organizations could provide additional grants to support Tajikistan's economy and social sphere in the period of the global financial and economic crisis.              During their substantial conversation, the parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening and broadening their bilateral cooperation.