ADB, donors to provide $340m for food security measures
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners will provide $340 million to help Bangladesh implement the social protection measures, particularly on food security, under the 2008-09 budget, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
"ADB will provide $170 million and others a similar amount," ADB Country Director Hua Du told reporters after a meeting with Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam at the Finance Ministry Monday.
Hua Du made a farewell call on the Adviser prior to her departure Monday night from Bangladesh on completion of a six-year assignment here. She will join the ADB headquarters in Manila.
She said ADB in collaboration with other development partners including IMF, USAID, FAO and WFP carried out a joint assessment on the food security issue and committed to co-finance the programme with the government.
The outgoing ADB country director said a project proposal was being prepared at a very fast pace, less than two months, and the proposal would be submitted to the ADB board of directors by this month.
She said the ADB along with other development partners would also support the National Food Policy, which is a very sound and good one, to increase agriculture productivity in the medium and longer term. The government is now undertaking an action plan to implement the food policy, she added.
Hua Du said she apprised the Finance Adviser of updates in the ADB-assisted projects in Bangladesh like projects in social, transportation and energy sectors. She also apprised Dr Aziz of new projects in these sectors.
"ADB will provide $170 million and others a similar amount," ADB Country Director Hua Du told reporters after a meeting with Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam at the Finance Ministry Monday.
Hua Du made a farewell call on the Adviser prior to her departure Monday night from Bangladesh on completion of a six-year assignment here. She will join the ADB headquarters in Manila.
She said ADB in collaboration with other development partners including IMF, USAID, FAO and WFP carried out a joint assessment on the food security issue and committed to co-finance the programme with the government.
The outgoing ADB country director said a project proposal was being prepared at a very fast pace, less than two months, and the proposal would be submitted to the ADB board of directors by this month.
She said the ADB along with other development partners would also support the National Food Policy, which is a very sound and good one, to increase agriculture productivity in the medium and longer term. The government is now undertaking an action plan to implement the food policy, she added.
Hua Du said she apprised the Finance Adviser of updates in the ADB-assisted projects in Bangladesh like projects in social, transportation and energy sectors. She also apprised Dr Aziz of new projects in these sectors.