Bangladesh will receive an additional aid grant of 14 55 million US dollars equivalent to Tk 59.65 crore from the United States for three on go ing development projects re ports UNB.

The two countries signed three agreements to this effect in Dhaka yesterday The projects are being financed try the United States Agency for In ternational Development (USAID)

Officials said the three pro jects where the grants will be utilised are: Agro-baaed Indus tries and Technology Devel opment Project (ATDP) Women s Enterprise Develop ment Project (WEDPI and PL 480 Title 111 Food Programme

The agreement for ATDP increased the total project amount from four million to 10 million US dollars The private entrepreneurs who deal with the agri inputs, agro-process Ing equipment poultry and livestock will get assistance from the Agribusiness Credit Fund (ACF) under the pro gramme

The WEDP project, being Implemented by Bangladesh Smail and Cottage Industries Corporation through a project agreement with USAID, will have an additional 1 050 mil lion US dollars The latest agreement brings USAID sup port to WEDP to 4 1 million US dollars

The funds support training credit for on lending to poor women, technical assistance, commodity procurement and operational expenses, started in September 1992

The 5 year WEDP projec t seeks to assist poor women to own and operate viable enter Brise In the informal sector nder the current phase of the project, over 34.000 women have received loans training and business advice through 40 field offices.

Additionally. WEDP sup ported enterprisers have pro vided paid employment for 29.000 poor men and women

The new food aid agree ment under the PL 480 pro gramme will provide 23 000 metric tons of food aid valued at 7.5 million US dollars to Bangladesh in 1996 Wheat will be used by the primary and mass education division for the Food for Education Programme.

Since 1991, PL-480 Title 111 agreements have generated nearly Tk 800 crore Of the amount, about Tk 106 crore has been programmed for agriculture. Tk 314 crore for health and family welfare. Tk 15 crore for water and sanita tion. Tk 279 crore for primary and mass education and Tk I 5 crore for the Palit Karma Sa hayak Foundation an NGO Implemented activity for poverty alleviation

Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Mohammad Shahldul Alam Charge d Affaires of US Embassy In Dhaka Nancy J Powell and Acting Director of USAID Usa Chiles signed the three agreements on behalf of their respective governments