WB to approve new strategy of cooperation with Azerbaijan by July 2015

  18 March 2015    Read: 1052
WB to approve new strategy of cooperation with Azerbaijan by July 2015
World Bank (WB) plans to adopt a new strategy of cooperation with Azerbaijan in May-June 2015, which will cover a six-year period, the head of the World Bank in Azerbaijan Larisa Leshchenko told reporters March 17.
She said that in April, it is planned to hold consultations with the Azerbaijani government on the priority areas of cooperation strategy.

Also, after the Novruz holiday, meetings with representatives of various organizations involved in the work on the strategy are expected.

She said that to date, Azerbaijan has mastered about 25-26 percent of the World Bank funds, which is quite a good indicator.

“Compared to other countries in the region, in Azerbaijan we achieved very good results,” she said. “Development of funds is progressing well.”

Leshchenko said that projects implemented by WB in the country cover such areas as the development of road infrastructure, agriculture, water supply, social protection of population, registration of property rights, the development of the judicial system, etc.

In addition, she said that the World Bank together with the ministry of taxes of the country is currently working on stimulation of cashless payments.

The head of the World Bank also raised the topic of changes in the rate of manat [starting from February 21, 2015 rate of the national currency to the dollar fell by almost 34 percent by the decision of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan].

“It was the right step, which increases the competitiveness of the Azerbaijani economy on global markets, taking into account the fact that many countries of the region carried out a devaluation of the national currency,” said Leshchenko.

She went on to add that the non-oil sector will benefit from the adjustment of the manat.

The current strategy of cooperation with Azerbaijan was calculated for 2011-2014. Despite the fact that the timing of its implementation was completed in late June 2014, the bank continues to work on projects that will be financed by the World Bank within the framework of the transition period.

At present, the World Bank`s current portfolio in Azerbaijan is about $ 2.7 billion.

Azerbaijan is a member of the World Bank since 1992. The sum of loan agreements signed between Azerbaijan and the World Bank amounts to $4.086 billion.

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