Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The Government of Bangladesh and Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Sunday concluded a 15-day joint review of ADB-assisted projects of Bangladesh to further improve development results.
Senior government officials, project directors, and ADB staff members from its headquarters and the Bangladesh Resident Mission participated in the review. The review program concluded through a wrap-up meeting chaired jointly by Mohammad Mejbahuddin, Senior Secretary, Economic Relations Division, and Kazuhiko Higuchi, ADB Country Director for Bangladesh.
“The country portfolio review is an important annual exercise to discuss a wide range of issues and agree on actions to enhance performance and achieve development results,” said Country Director Kazuhiko Higuchi.
“The review identified and agreed on specific actions to further improve project readiness, reduce project startup delays, expedite procurement and fund disbursements, resolve project-specific issues, improve auditing, and accelerate land acquisition, resettlement and project implementation”.
As of 31 December 2014, ADB’s cumulative lending to Bangladesh stood at $16.10 billion for 253 loans, while the technical assistance amounted to $242 million for 439 projects. ADB portfolio for Bangladesh currently includes 58 loans amounting to $5.26 billion; and 47 TA and grant projects amounting at $140.2 million.
ADB focuses its cooperation in Bangladesh on six sectors—energy; transport; water and other urban/municipal infrastructure and services; education; finance; and agriculture, natural resources, and rural development. In 2014, ADB approved loans, totaling $968 million, for Bangladesh.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members — 48 from the region.
BBN/SSR/AD-15Mar15-9:52 pm (BST)
