Donors asked to simplify funding procedures

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Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam has asked the donors to simplify their funding procedures, report agencies.
"It is widely believed that donors often attach tough conditions for funds… but now I am giving conditions for funding. The condition is to make funding procedures more simple and reasonable," he said.
Dr Aziz was addressing a workshop on 'Creating a National Strategy for Trade and the Enhanced Integrated Framework' in the city Tuesday.
UNDP, European Commission, World Bank, DFID UK, CIDA and IFC jointly organised the workshop.
The adviser also requested the donors not to mix up aid with market access.
"Any assistance must not be tagged to market access. The two are different," he said.
He opined that global aid must be increased to accelerate development process in the developing countries.
Aziz sought assistance from the donors in trade related infrastructure, improvement of existing products, identification of new products, new markets exploration and improving skills.
UNDP Country Director Manoj Basnyat, and Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission Stefan Frowein attended the inaugural session of the workshop as the special guests.