ADB awards five best performing project teams
Monday, 1 February 2010
FE Report
In recognition of efficient project implementation, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Sunday awarded to its five best performing project teams for 2009 in Bangladesh.
The best project recognition programme, initiated in 2001, is part of an ongoing effort by ADB to continuously improve the development effectiveness of the projects that the donor agency finances in Bangladesh.
In reflection of these efforts, ADB in 2009 achieved contract awards of over $1.2 billion, and disbursed around $1.1 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh, which was an all time high for ADB in the country.
The winning project teams are Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement Project being executed by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED); North-West Crop Diversification Project executed by the Department of Agricultural Extension; Teaching Quality Improvement in Secondary Education Project, executed by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education; Emergency Disaster Damage Rehabilitation (Sector) Project, jointly executed by the LGED, Roads and Highways Department, and Water Development Board; and Gas Transmission and Development Project jointly executed by Gas Transmission Company Ltd, Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd., Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd., Pashchimanchal Gas Company Ltd., Petrobangla, Bangladesh Gas Exploration Company Ltd., Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd., and Hydrocarbon Unit of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
Country Director Paul Heytens presented the prizes to the winning project teams at a ceremony held in ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM). Senior government officials, project directors of various ADB-assisted projects, members of the winning project teams, and ADB staff attended the ceremony.
"The awards were given recognizing the project teams' excellence in efficiency, results orientation, transparency in procurement, effective project implementation, and efforts to empower women and other criteria," said Country Director Paul J. Heytens.
The Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement Project, which ADB is supporting with $60 million in concessional loans, is helping the selected Pourashavas to enhance accountability, strengthen capabilities, and develop and expand physical infrastructure and urban services to increase economic opportunities.
The North-West Crop Diversification Project, which ADB assisted with around $47 million in concessional loans, covered 61 upazilas of 16 north-western districts aiming to diversify and intensify quality high value crops and improve the rural marketing system, management and infrastructure by providing production know-how, credit, training, crop research data, and up-to-date price information.
The Teaching Quality Improvement in Secondary Education Project, which received around $69 million in concessional loans from ADB, is helping the government reform and modernize the secondary education teacher training system in Bangladesh.
The Emergency Disaster Damage Rehabilitation (Sector) Project, which is supported with concessional finances of around $120 million, is helping to rehabilitate rural infrastructure, roads, water resources and municipal infrastructure damaged by the 2007 cyclone and floods.
The Gas Transmission and Development Project, which ADB is supporting with $230 million is loans, is helping the Government's plan to increase natural gas access to less developed areas of the country to enhance income-generating activities and to promote more balanced regional development.
As one of the major development partners of Bangladesh, ADB is currently supporting a wide range of development programs with 59 projects of the Government worth around $4.5 billion as of end January 2010.
In recognition of efficient project implementation, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Sunday awarded to its five best performing project teams for 2009 in Bangladesh.
The best project recognition programme, initiated in 2001, is part of an ongoing effort by ADB to continuously improve the development effectiveness of the projects that the donor agency finances in Bangladesh.
In reflection of these efforts, ADB in 2009 achieved contract awards of over $1.2 billion, and disbursed around $1.1 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh, which was an all time high for ADB in the country.
The winning project teams are Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement Project being executed by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED); North-West Crop Diversification Project executed by the Department of Agricultural Extension; Teaching Quality Improvement in Secondary Education Project, executed by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education; Emergency Disaster Damage Rehabilitation (Sector) Project, jointly executed by the LGED, Roads and Highways Department, and Water Development Board; and Gas Transmission and Development Project jointly executed by Gas Transmission Company Ltd, Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd., Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd., Pashchimanchal Gas Company Ltd., Petrobangla, Bangladesh Gas Exploration Company Ltd., Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd., and Hydrocarbon Unit of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
Country Director Paul Heytens presented the prizes to the winning project teams at a ceremony held in ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM). Senior government officials, project directors of various ADB-assisted projects, members of the winning project teams, and ADB staff attended the ceremony.
"The awards were given recognizing the project teams' excellence in efficiency, results orientation, transparency in procurement, effective project implementation, and efforts to empower women and other criteria," said Country Director Paul J. Heytens.
The Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement Project, which ADB is supporting with $60 million in concessional loans, is helping the selected Pourashavas to enhance accountability, strengthen capabilities, and develop and expand physical infrastructure and urban services to increase economic opportunities.
The North-West Crop Diversification Project, which ADB assisted with around $47 million in concessional loans, covered 61 upazilas of 16 north-western districts aiming to diversify and intensify quality high value crops and improve the rural marketing system, management and infrastructure by providing production know-how, credit, training, crop research data, and up-to-date price information.
The Teaching Quality Improvement in Secondary Education Project, which received around $69 million in concessional loans from ADB, is helping the government reform and modernize the secondary education teacher training system in Bangladesh.
The Emergency Disaster Damage Rehabilitation (Sector) Project, which is supported with concessional finances of around $120 million, is helping to rehabilitate rural infrastructure, roads, water resources and municipal infrastructure damaged by the 2007 cyclone and floods.
The Gas Transmission and Development Project, which ADB is supporting with $230 million is loans, is helping the Government's plan to increase natural gas access to less developed areas of the country to enhance income-generating activities and to promote more balanced regional development.
As one of the major development partners of Bangladesh, ADB is currently supporting a wide range of development programs with 59 projects of the Government worth around $4.5 billion as of end January 2010.