ADB ready to help avert vulnerable food situation
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Visiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) director general (DG) for South Asia Kunio Senga Monday assured Bangladesh of any support, if necessary, to tackle the country's vulnerable food situation, reports UNB.
"We'll closely monitor the situation and would be ready to help the government in any manner," he told reporters after a meeting with Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam at his Planning Ministry office.
The ADB director general arrived here Sunday night on a 3-day official visit to Bangladesh.
During the meeting, they had discussions on future ADB supports for Padma Bridge, budgetary support and long-term disaster management programmes and other projects.
Kunio said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to provide support to face the food situation if the government is unable to manage it and request the ADB for its support.
He said the government has already undertaken various measures and was also considering new measures. "The situation remained relatively under control," he said adding that food is available in the country although the price is on the rise all over the world.
The ADB senior executive appreciated Bangladesh for the smooth progress of ADB-supported projects and said the excellent performance in project implementation resulted in record high loan disbursement of around US$ 1.0 billion last year.
About food support, Finance Adviser Dr Aziz said ADB could provide food support in two forms - budgetary support or an unusual means that they could buy food for us."We've had a budget pressure as 70 per cent households in the Sidr-hit areas and 40 per cent in the flood-affected areas are under the VGF (vulnerable group feeding) programme," he added.
About other supports, the Adviser said donors have so far pledged to provide US$ 950 million-ADB US$ 350 million, and JBIC and World Bank US$ 300 million each-for the construction of Padma Bridge at a cost of US$ 1.6 billion.
He said Bangladesh would have to invest some money in this regard, but it would require some more external assistance. The ADB DG assured that they would try to mobilise more funds in this regard, he added.
The Finance Adviser also sought ADB support in Bangladesh's 15-year disaster recovery programme worth US$ 4 billion while the ADB DG apprised him of the development bank's efforts to set up a disaster fund in the bank.
He said the Bank would also participate in the London conference on climate change at the end of May this year, which would focus on Bangladesh.
During his 3-day visit, Kunio Senga is also scheduled to hold discussions with the Advisers for Foreign Affairs, Communications, and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Power and Energy, and senior government officials.
The discussions would focus on regional cooperation, food security, and power and transport sector developments, said a statement. Senga will also exchange views with the development partners and other stakeholders on a wide range of development issues.
The Manila-based ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance.
Set up in 1966, the Bank is owned by 67 members - 48 from the region. In 2007, it approved $10.1 billion of loans, $673 million of grant projects, and technical assistance amounting to $243 million.
"We'll closely monitor the situation and would be ready to help the government in any manner," he told reporters after a meeting with Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam at his Planning Ministry office.
The ADB director general arrived here Sunday night on a 3-day official visit to Bangladesh.
During the meeting, they had discussions on future ADB supports for Padma Bridge, budgetary support and long-term disaster management programmes and other projects.
Kunio said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to provide support to face the food situation if the government is unable to manage it and request the ADB for its support.
He said the government has already undertaken various measures and was also considering new measures. "The situation remained relatively under control," he said adding that food is available in the country although the price is on the rise all over the world.
The ADB senior executive appreciated Bangladesh for the smooth progress of ADB-supported projects and said the excellent performance in project implementation resulted in record high loan disbursement of around US$ 1.0 billion last year.
About food support, Finance Adviser Dr Aziz said ADB could provide food support in two forms - budgetary support or an unusual means that they could buy food for us."We've had a budget pressure as 70 per cent households in the Sidr-hit areas and 40 per cent in the flood-affected areas are under the VGF (vulnerable group feeding) programme," he added.
About other supports, the Adviser said donors have so far pledged to provide US$ 950 million-ADB US$ 350 million, and JBIC and World Bank US$ 300 million each-for the construction of Padma Bridge at a cost of US$ 1.6 billion.
He said Bangladesh would have to invest some money in this regard, but it would require some more external assistance. The ADB DG assured that they would try to mobilise more funds in this regard, he added.
The Finance Adviser also sought ADB support in Bangladesh's 15-year disaster recovery programme worth US$ 4 billion while the ADB DG apprised him of the development bank's efforts to set up a disaster fund in the bank.
He said the Bank would also participate in the London conference on climate change at the end of May this year, which would focus on Bangladesh.
During his 3-day visit, Kunio Senga is also scheduled to hold discussions with the Advisers for Foreign Affairs, Communications, and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Power and Energy, and senior government officials.
The discussions would focus on regional cooperation, food security, and power and transport sector developments, said a statement. Senga will also exchange views with the development partners and other stakeholders on a wide range of development issues.
The Manila-based ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance.
Set up in 1966, the Bank is owned by 67 members - 48 from the region. In 2007, it approved $10.1 billion of loans, $673 million of grant projects, and technical assistance amounting to $243 million.