The US$ 4.5 billion ‘Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2011-15’ for Bangladesh by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has already come into effect as some loan agreements have been signed in projects relating to railway and water supply.

Loan agreements with ADB for three big projects have been signed in this calendar year, said a senior official at the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

He said the ADB board is likely to approve Wednesday $ 150 million for the Bangladesh Railway Improvement Programme envisaged in the recently launched CPS. Loan negotiations have already been completed regarding the project.

Besides, the ADB Board has already approved $ 300 million for the Power System Efficiency Improvement Project, added the ERD official.

Under the CPS 2011-15, the government has struck a $ 320 million deal with the ADB for the Primary Education Sector Development Programme III, $75 million deal for the Khulna Water Supply Project and another $ 55 million loan agreement for the 2nd Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development Project.

The official informed that the ADB is likely to provide assistance to Bangladesh against 10 projects in the calendar year 2012 amounting to $ 900 million including $ 185 million for the Energy Sector Improvement Project, $150 million for the South West Road Network Project, $ 145 million for the Greater Dhaka Sustainable Transport Corridor project, and $ 135 million for the 2nd Public Private Infrastructure Development Facility project.

For the calendar year 2013, the ADB is likely to provide around $ 925 million against 6 projects while the country operations business plan for the calendar year 2014 and 2015 are yet to be finalized.

The ERD official said that in line with the government priorities, new projects may be included in the CPS in future.

Earlier, on December 7, the ADB’s $ 4.5 billion Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2011-15 for Bangladesh was formally launched. —UNB

Source: The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 13th Dec 2011