Tajikistan's Big Bet on Energy and Roads

Tajikistan is getting a lot of help to build things. Most of the money comes from outside the country. Big groups like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are giving almost all the cash for 82 projects. These projects are worth about $4. 5 billion. Out of this, $3. 2 billion is given as gifts, and $1. 2 billion is loans. Tajikistan's own government is putting in just $144 million. That's only 3% of the total. The biggest chunk of money is going to energy projects, like the Rogun Dam. This dam is controversial. Some people worry it won't make enough money and might hurt the environment. The World Bank even paused its help until Tajikistan can show the dam will be worth it. Other countries and groups are also giving money for the dam. But the cost keeps going up. It was supposed to be $5 billion, but now it's over $8 billion. Besides the dam, the World Bank is helping with other things. Like bringing electricity to remote areas and making it easier for businesses to grow. But getting money from other countries is getting harder. In the first half of 2025, Tajikistan got less money than the year before. Officials say slow internet and not enough flights are part of the problem. But there are bigger issues. The rules for businesses are confusing. And corruption is everywhere, from small checks to big deals. Tajikistan needs to fix these problems to get more investment. Right now, it's hard for new businesses to start or grow. The country needs to make things clearer and fairer. Only then will more people want to invest.