ADB to give $130m for governance improvement of public entities
Sunday, 1 July 2007
FE Report
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is likely to provide Bangladesh US$130 million worth of fund to improve the governance in different public entities, official sources said.
An appraisal mission from the multilateral donor will arrive in Dhaka for an eight-day visit on July 12 to examine the necessity of strengthening governance in different government sectors.
A senior Economic Relations Division (ERD) official told the FE: "The ADB mission will complete its necessary works in Bangladesh during its visit from July 12 -20 next prior to the negotiations for the fund, which is likely to be completed in August this year."
He said that the proposed ADB loan will be utilised to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Cabinet Division and judicial system, recast the Public Service Commission (PSC), facilitate Chittagong port operation and ensure birth registration for all citizens in the country.
The official also said that the ADB has already given positive indication on offering the assistance for improvement of governance in the public administration following some reform works of the present interim government.
"The ADB has assured the government about the financial support for improving governance and establishing transparency in the administrative system," the ERD official opined.
The official, however, said that the Manila-based donor was to provide only $40 million 'programme loan' for ensuring good governance in the public administration. "But after the present caretaker government took initiatives in streamlining the public system the ADB has revised its plan and wanted to support in a bigger way."
According to the ERD official, the bank will provide the loan in three tranche to the government.
"We expect the release of the first tranche of the proposed $130 million in October-November period of the current year," he said.
The ERD official said that for the first time in the history, the ADB is providing the large amount of fund for improving governance in Bangladesh.
An ADB fact-finding mission visited Dhaka in last April in order to asses the requirement of the proposed fund for improving the governance system in Bangladesh.
During the visit, the ADB team discussed with different government organisations including the ACC, Cabinet Division, High Court, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), Local Government Division in order to take their views about establishing transparency and good governance in the government system.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is likely to provide Bangladesh US$130 million worth of fund to improve the governance in different public entities, official sources said.
An appraisal mission from the multilateral donor will arrive in Dhaka for an eight-day visit on July 12 to examine the necessity of strengthening governance in different government sectors.
A senior Economic Relations Division (ERD) official told the FE: "The ADB mission will complete its necessary works in Bangladesh during its visit from July 12 -20 next prior to the negotiations for the fund, which is likely to be completed in August this year."
He said that the proposed ADB loan will be utilised to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Cabinet Division and judicial system, recast the Public Service Commission (PSC), facilitate Chittagong port operation and ensure birth registration for all citizens in the country.
The official also said that the ADB has already given positive indication on offering the assistance for improvement of governance in the public administration following some reform works of the present interim government.
"The ADB has assured the government about the financial support for improving governance and establishing transparency in the administrative system," the ERD official opined.
The official, however, said that the Manila-based donor was to provide only $40 million 'programme loan' for ensuring good governance in the public administration. "But after the present caretaker government took initiatives in streamlining the public system the ADB has revised its plan and wanted to support in a bigger way."
According to the ERD official, the bank will provide the loan in three tranche to the government.
"We expect the release of the first tranche of the proposed $130 million in October-November period of the current year," he said.
The ERD official said that for the first time in the history, the ADB is providing the large amount of fund for improving governance in Bangladesh.
An ADB fact-finding mission visited Dhaka in last April in order to asses the requirement of the proposed fund for improving the governance system in Bangladesh.
During the visit, the ADB team discussed with different government organisations including the ACC, Cabinet Division, High Court, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), Local Government Division in order to take their views about establishing transparency and good governance in the government system.