Tajikstan's air company investment in Khoujand Airport underway with EBRD assistance

Published: 10/25/1999

The Tajikstan state air company, Tochikiston, is undertaking urgent repairs to the runway and drainage system at Khoujand Airport, using a combination of funds from a $3m EBRD loan, granted in April 1999, together with a $2.5m grant from the Japan Fund for post-Conflict Support and $350,000 from the Japanese-Europe Cooperation Fund. Tochikiston has already invested over $1m in materials and equipment, including an asphalt plant from India. According to Mirzo Mastangulov, General Director of Tochikiston, the first phase of reconstruction is underway and will be followed by the laying of a surface that will bring the runway up to international standards. This will help ensure that the airport remains open during the winter, when without rail links and roads become impassable the airport offers the only point of travel between the south and north of the country. Tochikiston is also conducting a study, funded by the EBRD, to review the air company's organisation, especially the potential separation of its variousfunctions into independent entities. Based in Dansube, the country's capital, Tochikiston employs 1970 people and operates a mixed fleet of 66 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft including 20 Yak-40s, seven Tu-134s and 12 Tu-154s.

Article ID: 1007