WB chief assures support for Bangladesh's dev projects
Thursday, 27 September 2007
NEW YORK, Sept 26 (UNB): World Bank (WB) President Robert Zoellick has assured Bangladesh of continued support to its various development projects.
He appreciated the caretaker government's performance on electoral, governance and economic reforms.
The WB boss made the assurance as well as the appreciation when he called on Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed at the UN headquarters Tuesday on the sidelines of 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Zoellick inquired about the post-flood rehabilitation being carried out by the government and underscored the Bank's interest in rural credit delivery.
Briefing reporters CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said the WB will focus its assistance on infrastructures, especially roads, ports and bridges including co-financing of the Padma Bridge project.
The CA explained the current macro-economic situation and measures being undertaken to accelerate the growth and development as well as alleviating poverty. Possibilities of using micro-credit in agriculture sector were also discussed.
Fakhruddin apprised him of the progress made about the election roadmap to hold the general elections "before the end of December 2008, or if possible, even at an earlier date".
Zoellick said he was looking forward to visiting Bangladesh soon and "learning from Bangladesh experience".
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ismat Jahan and World Bank Alternate Executive Director Zakir Ahmed Khan were present on the occasion.
He appreciated the caretaker government's performance on electoral, governance and economic reforms.
The WB boss made the assurance as well as the appreciation when he called on Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed at the UN headquarters Tuesday on the sidelines of 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Zoellick inquired about the post-flood rehabilitation being carried out by the government and underscored the Bank's interest in rural credit delivery.
Briefing reporters CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said the WB will focus its assistance on infrastructures, especially roads, ports and bridges including co-financing of the Padma Bridge project.
The CA explained the current macro-economic situation and measures being undertaken to accelerate the growth and development as well as alleviating poverty. Possibilities of using micro-credit in agriculture sector were also discussed.
Fakhruddin apprised him of the progress made about the election roadmap to hold the general elections "before the end of December 2008, or if possible, even at an earlier date".
Zoellick said he was looking forward to visiting Bangladesh soon and "learning from Bangladesh experience".
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ismat Jahan and World Bank Alternate Executive Director Zakir Ahmed Khan were present on the occasion.