WB holds consultations in Baku

The World Bank (WB) held in Baku on Thursday consultations to prepare for implementation of a second project "Azerbaijan rural investment" (AzRIP).

Consultations were held with the participation of head of the working group for the project from the WB, senior social development specialist at the Department of Sustainable Development of Europe and Central Asia, Daniel Owen, AzRIP Director Subhan Asgerov, deputy director of the project Gulbeniz Gambarova, as well as a number of NGO representatives, cooperating with the project.

During the discussions the sides exchanged experience on the first AzRIP project, which ends in late March.

Following the discussions a report will be made on the basis of which conclusions will be drawn on the eve of the start of the second project AzRIP, what is planned this year, said Owen.

Asgerov noted similar projects have already been implemented before AzRIP, but all of them were sponsored by international NGOs.

"The uniqueness of this project lies in the fact that this is the first such project implemented with the support of the state," he said.

This is one of the largest projects, both in terms of volume of investment, and in terms of scope and objectives, Asgerov said.

The sides noted the urgent problems requiring attention during the second project AzRIP.

The second project, unlike the first, includes coverage of the whole territory of Azerbaijan.

The loan agreement for the AzRIP first project was signed in September 23, 2004 and came into force on December 29, 2004. The total project cost is $21.1 million, $15 million of which account for International Development Association credit, $3.3 million - grant from the Japanese government and the remainder is paid by the government and beneficiaries (communities) all sharing $1.25 million in the project.

A loan agreement for additional funding for the AzRIP project worth $21.5 million was signed in April, 2010.


/Trend/