OPEC Fund provides $30 million loan to Tajikistan for China road link

The OPEC Fund for International Development has signed a $30 million loan agreement with Tajikistan to fund the first phase of a road rehabilitation project. The initiative focuses on the Rushan–Varshez corridor, a critical 82.2-kilometer stretch of the Dushanbe–Kulma–China Border highway and Asian Highway AH66.

The project aims to strengthen transport links between Tajikistan and China, improving access to markets and essential services in the remote Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region. The corridor serves approximately 217,000 people across 370 settlements, and the rehabilitation is expected to benefit 25,000 individuals through improved road safety and more reliable year-round travel.

This agreement coincides with the launch of the OPEC Fund’s first Country Partnership Framework with Tajikistan for the 2026–2028 period. The framework prioritizes regional connectivity, energy security, and food security as key areas for future cooperation.