DHAKA, July 31, 2018 (BSS) – A three-day regional event organised by the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) kicked off in the city today to further enhance
project design and implementation capacity of ADB-funded projects’ executing
and implementing agencies.
State Minister for Finance and Planning M.A Mannan, MP inaugurated the
event at a city hotel this morning.
Secretary for Economic Relations Division Kazi Shofiqul Azam, ADB Country
Director Manmohan Parkash, and ADB’s Portfolio Management Division Director
Rehan Kausar, among others, spoke at the opening session, said a press
release.
“The event in Dhaka is the first regional initiative in South Asia for
promoting sound design and efficient implementation of development projects,”
said ADB Country Director Manmohan Parkash.
The event is meaningful as it is a part of ADB efforts to deliver
effective development results by combining financing with knowledge and
expertise. Projects are the cornerstones of ADB’s relationship with the
client countries, he said.
He said in Bangladesh, ADB has focused its cooperation on six sectors-
energy, transport, water and urban/municipal infrastructure and services;
education; finance; and agriculture, natural resources, and rural
development.
ADB’s ongoing active portfolio in Bangladesh comprises 53 projects
amounting to $9.4 billion, and 27 technical assistance projects amounting at
$23.8 million, Parkash added.
Around 70 ministry officials and government project staff from
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka as well as ADB staff are
participating in the event.
The programme also includes a site visit to a facility under the Dhaka
Water and Sewerage Authority on the last day.
Senior ADB staff, including directors and sector experts, will conduct
sessions.