The World Bank has said it will lend 3 billion US dollar (18,6 milliarder DKR) to Bangladesh through 2009 and will put good governance at the heart of its aid program.
The promise comes as new figures show a remarkable downturn in aid to the poor South Asian country: Bangladesh received 488 million dollar in foreign aid in the first half of fiscal 2005-2006 (July-June), down from 815 million dollar a year earlier.
The countrys net foreign aid receipts were 237 million dollar in that period after it had paid out 251 million to repay earlier loans. The year-earlier amount was over 500 million dollar.
“The Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Bangladesh was approved Wednesday by the World Bank board, it said in a statement.
– The strategy puts governance at center stage. Governance will be the core focus in every sector we engage, and sector governance reform will be the target of every Bank-supported project, Country Director Christine Wallich said.
The World Bank added that over the next four years its loans would target improving the investment climate, liberalizing trade, improving the competitiveness of key industries, empowering the poor and reducing administrative barriers.
The World Bank statement said that while “Bangladesh had made impressive economic and social gains in the past decade, nearly half of its 140 million people still live in poverty and its annual per capita income is just 470 dollar (2.915 DKR)”.
Noting that good governance would be the core focus in every project, the World Bank also applauded successes in this area, listing three successive free elections, an assertive Supreme Court, sound public procurement regulations, an active civil society, and a relatively free media.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
