Events

MINSK, 12 April (BelTA) – World Bank Vice President Cyril Muller will visit Belarus from 31 May to 1 June, the press service of the Belarusian government told BelTA after a meeting between Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Kalinin, WB Country Manager for Belarus Young Chul Kim, and WB experts.

During the meeting, the parties discussed promising cooperation fields and pressing matters concerning the current projects.

Young Chul Kim told Anatoly Kalinin that World Bank’s management is considering Belarus’ proposals regarding the possibility of taking out additional loans for projects in water supply, municipal solid waste management, and energy conservation. He added that the World Bank is working hard to attract co-financing from its partner financial institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The partner organizations can provide up to 50% of the cost of the new projects proposed by the Belarusian side.

The European Commission instructed the EBRD and the EIB to step up presence in Belarus and increase their investment portfolio in the region, Young Chul Kim pointed out. The World Bank has plans to invite EBRD and EIB experts to take part in monitoring the status of implementation of the program Clean Water and the Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Belarus in May 2016.

Young Chul Kim added that the WB management approved the proposals of the Belarusian side regarding the concept for the development of projects to integrate ICT solutions into the healthcare and trade sectors. The drafting of relevant agreements is underway.

Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Kalinin thanked Young Chul Kim for the meeting and his active position on the promotion and expansion of cooperation between the World Bank and Belarus.

To utilize the loans, in April 2016 Anatoly Kalinin instructed the Belarusian Housing and Utilities Ministry and the Transport Ministry to prepare accelerated schedules for the implementation of the projects in cooperation with the World Bank and submit them to the government for approval.