"In principle we have already made a decision," Karimov said. "In a few days an official announcement will be made and then we will start introducing the currency."
Tajikistan is the poorest former Soviet republic. Economic collapse following independence in 1991 and a 1992 civil war has been compounded by a shortage of rubles leaving many state employees unpaid for a year.
A first attempt to launch the Tajik ruble was blocked by the Supreme Soviet last spring, and there has been a hiatus since President Imomali Rakhmonov said in December the currency would be launched.
Meanwhile ruble inflation has galloped ahead.
"Introducing the national currency will be a big stimulus to help revive the economy," Karimov said.
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