Wednesday, November 20, 2019

ADB urges timely awarding of contracts

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) asked the government to ensure capable leadership at projects and focus on implementation to execute projects on time.
Speaking at the Tripartite Portfolio Review Meeting (TPRM) of ADB-supported projects in Nepal today, ADB country director for Nepal Mukhtor Khamudkhanov gave the example of Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA). “The Gautam Buddha International Airport under the South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project is a good example of how leadership and improved implementation arrangement can positively impact the progress of a project,” he said, adding that the project is one of the examples that has met both its contract awards and disbursement targets for this fiscal year.
“ADB values its partnership with the government and the leadership shown by the government to improve project implementation for successful and timely development outcomes,” he added .
The ADB has recently approved its latest country partnership strategy for Nepal, 2020-24, which focuses on three priority areas – improved infrastructure for private sector-led growth, improved access to devolved services, and environmental sustainability and resilience – and with an estimated $500 million to $600 million lending on an average from 2020 to 2022.
“As the volume of lending increases and the portfolio grows in the future, it is even more important that we pay attention to timely contract awards and disbursements,” Khamud Khanov said, adding that successful project implementation is key to bringing results on the ground and improving the lives of Nepali people. “The ADB will continue to help executing and implementing agencies to strengthen their capacity to plan, design, and implement ADB projects.”
The ADB disbursed $227.3 million in the first 10 months (from January to October) of 2019, which is higher compared to the same period last year. Of the net available funding amount of $2.96 billion spread over 31 investment projects and two programme loans, 54 per cent has been contracted out and 55 per cent has been disbursed as of October 31, reads a press note of the ADB.
“Challenges remain in ensuring speed and efficiency in project delivery, and such review meetings provide an excellent platform to highlight key issues of project implementation and agree on critical actions,” said revenue secretary Sisheer Kumar Dhungana, on the occasion.
Dhungana said that the challenge remains in ensuring speed and efficiency in project delivery, and such review meetings provide an excellent platform to highlight key issues of project implementation and agree on critical actions. “The executing and implementing agencies should be more sensitive for timely completion of the projects so as to get the expected results on the ground,” he added.
Since its establishment in 1966, ADB has provided almost $6 billion in financial and technical assistance to Nepal. The assistance has been provided in energy, transport, water supply and urban infrastructure services, agriculture and irrigation, and education.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members, 49 from the region.

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