Mr. Tokeshi will be responsible for delivering ADB’s development assistance program to Tajikistan, totaling around $252 million over the next three years, as provided in the Tajikistan Country Partnership Strategy for 2010-2014. He will also oversee the implementation of ADB’s ongoing portfolio in the country totaling around $280 million in transport and trade facilitation, energy, and agriculture.

"I am very excited and look forward to my new assignment here,” said Mr. Tokeshi, who has served as ADB’s Deputy Country Director for Tajikistan since 2009. “ADB has a long-term commitment to Tajikistan’s development, with a focus on fostering transport connectivity, energy security and private sector development.”

Mr. Tokeshi, a Japanese national with a PhD in economics, has worked in development on three continents – Africa, South America and Asia – and has been with ADB for 11 years. Before joining ADB’s Tajikistan Resident Mission, he worked as ADB’s Deputy Country Director for Afghanistan and as a rural development specialist for the People's Republic of China (PRC), Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philippines, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Mr. Tokeshi said ADB will continue to collaborate and coordinate as a proactive partner with key stakeholders in Tajikistan, including the government, civil society, development partners and others, to ensure the country’s development requirements are met. “I look forward to strengthening our efforts within the Donor Coordination Council and Joint Country Partnership Strategy,” he said.

Mr. Tokeshi will also continue to work closely with the government and development partners to promote regional cooperation through the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program.

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998. ADB's cumulative assistance to Tajikistan is expected to reach around $720 million by the end of 2010 in concessional loans, grants and technical assistance.

CAREC, comprising Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and six multilateral partners, including ADB, was established in 1997. Its work includes improving Central Asia's physical infrastructure, harmonizing customs and other trade facilitation procedures and promoting trade in power. ADB has served as its Secretariat since 2000.