July 25, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 09, 1428

DUSHANBE, July 24: The central Asian state of Tajikistan has decided to open its financial market to foreign banks, having kept them at arms length for years, in a move hailed by the World Bank.

Central Bank chief Murodali Alimardonov said on Tuesday the first operating licence was being awarded to the Kazakh bank Kazkommertsbank.

“Three other foreign banks will receive their licences in the coming months,” he said, adding that one would be a Qatar-based investment fund.—AFP