“Given the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we are enhancing our partnership with Bangladesh by adjusting program priorities to help the country overcome immediate challenges related to health and social protection, accelerate economic recovery, and maintain inclusive growth,” said ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash.
“More support will be provided to improve health, food security, social protection, skills development, rural development, water and sanitation, and finance sector, among others.” “Climate resilience, gender inclusion, and balanced regional development are program priorities”.
Noting the government request for increased support, Manmohan Parkash said, “ADB will increase its support for private sector, public-private partnership projects and help with bond market development”.
Also read: Bangladesh to see 7.5pc growth in FY2021: ADB
“To mobilize more resources, we will leverage cofinancing opportunities and use diverse financing tools and modalities including policy-based loan, technical assistance, grants, equity, guarantees, B-loan, and trade financing.”
“We are increasing our technical assistance support, and emphasizing innovative approaches, and new technologies to further boost development effectiveness and strengthen results”, Mr. Parkash added.
According to the COBP, $5,938 million is for firm projects while another $5,170 million is for standby projects, and $35.6 million for technical assistance programs during 2021-2023, said a press release on Thursday.
The standby list includes a pipeline of bankable projects, that respond to the country’s needs and growing absorptive capacity, to be financed depending on the availability of additional lending resources. Regardless of firm or standby status, projects will be selected and processed based on strong government demand, sector absorptive capacity, and readiness, among other criteria.
The COBP is aligned with the guiding principles of the government’s 8th five-year plan (under preparation) and its core themes of promoting prosperity and fostering inclusiveness, and ADB’s Strategy 2030. Projects in the COBP will also help the country attain several Sustainable Development Goals.
Also read: ADB nods $50m loan for Bangladesh
ADB operations in Bangladesh prioritizes health, digital education, social protection, skills development, transport corridor development and global value chains, regional and sub-regional cooperation, improved urban services, water supply and sanitation, rural development, and high quality electricity supply, among others.
Major projects included in the COBP are Healthcare Improvement Program, Climate and Disaster Risk Resilience Project, Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project, Skills for Employment Project, Startup Venture Capital Fund, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Development Program, Supporting Education for Children with Special Needs, Computer and Software Engineering Tertiary Education Project, Digital University Development Project and Renewable Energy Project.
Besides, Scaling up Energy Efficiency and Conservation Project, Chattogram Water Supply Project, Coastal Town Improvement Project, Secondary Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project, SASEC International Trade Facilitation Program, Dhaka-Sylhet Road Project, dual gauging of Dhaka-Chattogram Rail lines, Dhaka-Cumilla Chord Rail Line, Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Rail Line, Dhirashram Inland Container Depot Project, and Road Safety Improvement Program.
Also read: ADB provides $231,178 grant to augment COVID-19 related facilities in Bangladesh
In its 47-year-long partnership with Bangladesh, ADB has mobilized over $34.9 billion in loans and grants, including cofinancing, to help bring better infrastructure, public services, and social development outcomes to the people of Bangladesh. ADB’s current sovereign portfolio in Bangladesh has 49 projects with around $11 billion.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.