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ADB diversifies lending

Star Economic Report
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has diversified and expanded lending to agriculture. energy and power, industry. transport and the social sectors in Bangladesh, according to ADB Annual Report 1990 released this month.
The Bank also addressed poverty alleviation. women in development and environmental concerns in 1990.
Agriculture remains bank's priority, with emphasis on Increasing foodgrain production through better flood control, drainage and Infrastructure and Improved input supply (including credit) and pricing policies, the report says.
In the energy sector. ADB focuses on. developing indigenous energy resources, particularly natural gas and coal.
In industry, the bank played a role in the divestment and autonomy of public enterprises. in improving the financial viability of Development Finance Institutions (DFls) and in supporting the development of small-scale industries.
In the transport sector, the report says, efforts were made in 1990 to rehabilitate roads and bridges and increase the
overall efficiency of the transport system. Bank lending included projects to assist rural and disadvantaged groups through credits, training and employment creation programme.
The annual report says, the Bank discussed the Government's medium-term adjustment programme aimed at achieving rapid growth, enhancing Investment and savings. maintaining budgetary and balance of payments stability, fostering a dynamic private sector and developing human resources.
The Bank stressed domestic resource mobilisation through tax reforms, enhanced cost recovery and reduction of subsidies and the restructuring of public expenditure to meet growing operational maintenance and Investment needs.
In 1990. the Bank's lending totalled $356 million for one programme loan, one sector loan, two credit lines and four project loans in Bangladesh. These Included a loan to the private sector also.
The report says, three loans went to agriculture. A $125 million loan and three techni-
cal assistance grants totalling $500,000/- assisted the Foodcrop Development Programme which supports Government aims of raising rice and wheat production.
A $60 million loan was approved for the agriculture and rural credit project which augments the resources of public and private banks' lending to the rural sector and encourages policy and institutional reforms to improve rural credit delivery and recovery.
The report says, the Rural Women Employment Creation Project, supported by as $8 million loan. Is designed to provide small loans to help women set up non-farm selfemployment activities.
More than a third of 1990 lending went to the social sector. The Primary Education Sector Loan of $68.3 million is planned to help develop formal and non-formal primary schools, provide basic teaching aid packages, fellowship and training. The secondary Towns Infrastructure Development Project entails a $43 million loan to better the living conditions of the urban poor by im-
proving urban Infrastructure and services, the ADB report says.
The rural training project, supported by a loan of $16.25 million, is the first Bank project in Bangladesh to focus on poverty alleviation and supports a government scheme to provide microcircuit and training to generate self-employment among the landless rural poor. The Small and Cottage Industry Project provides a $30 million loan to private commercial banks for on lending to private small scale and cottage enterprises, the report says.
One Investment of $6 million in a synthetic fiber plant was approved during the year in Bangladesh. Cumulatively, three Investments totalling $13 million had been approved by 1990-end.