Brussels, 12/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Philippe Maystadt signed the Framework Agreement providing the basis for governing EIB's future lending in Tajikistan in Brussels on Wednesday 11 February. Maystadt said that the Framework Agreement “opens the way for EIB financing of projects in Tajikistan”. “We look forward to developing EIB's activities in the country in a close cooperation with the European Commission, the EBRD and other IFIs operating in Tajikistan”. In December 2006, the EU Council of Ministers decided to grant the EIB a new external mandate until 2013. This mandate provided, inter alia, for the financing for projects in Central Asia subject to a further Council Decision. The decision stipulating that Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan would be eligible for EIB financing under the mandate had been taken in November 2008. The signature of this Framework Agreement follows this EU Council Decision. (O.L./transl.rt)