The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged nearly $6.0-billion assistance to Bangladesh in the next three years from fiscal year (FY) 2021 to FY 2023.
Besides, the Manila-based lender has kept aside another $5.2 billion standby project aid for the country for disbursement during the period.
The ADB Dhaka office made the disclosures in a statement on Thursday.
Consulting the government, the ADB has prepared its new Country Operations Business Plan (COBP) where different pipeline projects would be bankrolled.
The COBP is aligned with the guiding principles of the government's upcoming eighth five-year plan and its core themes of promoting prosperity and fostering inclusiveness, and the ADB's Strategy 2030.
Projects in the COBP will also help Bangladesh attain several sustainable development goals, it added.
Under the COBP, the ADB has kept aside $5.94 billion for firm projects, another $5.2 billion for standby projects and $35.6 million for technical assistance projects during the period.
Among firm projects, it would bankroll the healthcare improvement programme, climate and disaster risk resilience project, agriculture productivity improvement project, skills for employment project and startup venture capital fund.
Small and medium-sized enterprises development programme, supporting education for children with special needs, computer and software engineering tertiary education project, and digital university development project would also be sponsored.
The ADB has also assured to fund renewable energy project, scaling up energy efficiency and conservation project, Chattogram water supply project, coastal town improvement project, secondary towns water supply and sanitation improvement project, SASEC international trade facilitation programme, Dhaka-Sylhet road project, dual gauging of Dhaka-Chattogram rail lines, Dhaka-Cumilla chord rail line, Chattogram-Cox's Bazar rail line, Dhirashram inland container depot project, and road safety improvement programme.
Besides, it has prepared a standby project list for possible funding, including a pipeline of bankable projects, to respond to the country's needs and growing absorptive capacity.
The financing will depend on the availability of additional lending resources.
Regardless of firm or standby status, projects will be selected and processed based on strong government demand, sector absorptive capacity and readiness, among other criteria.
ADB operations here include health, digital education, social protection, skills development, transport corridor development and global value chains, regional and sub-regional cooperation, improved urban services, water supply and sanitation, rural development and electricity supply.
In the past 47 years, the ADB has mobilised more than $34.9 billion in loans and grants, including co-financing, to help bring better infrastructure, public services and social development outcomes to the people.
Its current sovereign portfolio in Bangladesh has 49 projects with an estimated $11 billion.
ADB country director Manmohan Parkash said, "Given the coronavirus pandemic, we're enhancing our partnership with Bangladesh adjusting programme priorities to help it overcome immediate challenges related to health and social protection, accelerate economic recovery and maintain inclusive growth."
"More support will be provided to improve health, food security, social protection, skills development, rural development, water and sanitation, finance sector, climate resilience, gender inclusion, and balanced regional development programmes."
Noting the government's request for increased support, Mr Parkash said, "The ADB will increase its support for private-sector, public-private partnership projects and help with bond market development."
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