ALBANIA Two Grant Agreements Signed for World Bank-financed Projects The signing ceremony for two grant agreements with the Government of Albania took place at the Ministry of Finance on November 25. The European Community grant of Euro 4.0 million will finance implementation of the Coastal Village Conservation and Development Program in the framework of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Clean-Up Project, while the Japanese grant of US$509,000 aims to assist the Government of Albania and the Ministry of Education and Science in the preparation of the new Education Excellence and Quality Project. The agreements were endorsed by Minister of Finance Ridvan Bode and Country Manager Nadir Mohammed. Click here for the press release. ARMENIA Ministerial Conference Addresses Problems of Water Supply and Sanitation The Government of Armenia, in cooperation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, hosted in Yerevan a conference of ministers of economy/finance, environment, and water from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The conference addressed the critical situation of the water sector in these countries, and particularly how to finance much-needed improvements. Jamal Saghir, Director of the Water and Energy Department, and other Bank staff, participated in the event. Jamal chaired a roundtable discussion on public-private partnerships in the water supply and sanitation sector. It was recognized that the Armenian experience could serve as a useful reference for the other countries. For more information on the Bank’s work in this sector, click here. CROATIA Japanese Firm to Build Part of Rijeka Port Terminal Japanese construction firm Kajima Corp won a US$38 million contract, announced November 25, to build part of a multipurpose terminal at the northern Croatian port of Rijeka. Country Director Anand Seth attended. The terminal is part of the Rijeka Gateway Project, which aims to boost the efficiency of passenger and freight traffic at the port. The project includes upgrades of the port facilities and the adjacent road infrastructure. The World Bank is lending US$156.5 million for the Project. CroatiaPromotes Land Administration Reform The Croatian Government launched cadastral books in electronic form on November 9, which will make it possible for citizens to have access to over 16.5 million registered plots of land on-line. Country Director Anand Seth attended the launch. This service is part of the government's Hitro.hr project, a website to facilitate communication between individuals and the government. The new E-cadastre combined with the land registry data that is also available online will benefit all property owners and those interested in transacting in the property market. This is part of the overall government reform program of the land administration sector, which the World Bank is supporting through the Real Property Registration and Cadastre Project by seeking to build a more efficient land administration system. Dutch Government Supports Agricultural Reform in Croatia A donation agreement between the Dutch and Croatian governments was signed in Vukovar on October 21 by Dutch Minister of Development Cooperation Agnes van Ardenne and Karin Shepardson, Senior Regional Coordinator of the World Bank office in Croatia. The Dutch government has donated Euro 4.5 million to assist Croatiain adjusting its agricultural legislation to be in line with the European Union’s acquis communitaire. Croatian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management Petar Cobankovic estimated the cost of adjustment at Euro 41 million. Mr. Cobankovic said that the cost would also be covered with Euro 11 million from the government budget and a proposed Euro 26 million loan from the World Bank. Trade and Transport Facilitation Project Completed in Croatia and Bosnia The border crossing Maljevac-Hukica Brdo was opened on October 18 and is the second border crossing where Bosnian and Croatian border officers will work together. This joint Croatian/Bosnian border crossing represents the completion of the Trade and Transport Facilitation in Southeast Europe Project in Croatia and Bosnia, which has strengthened and modernized the customs administrations and other border control agencies. The ceremonial opening was attended by Country Director Anand Seth, Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Manager Dirk Reinermann, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, BiH Federation Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, BiH Finance Minister Ljerka Maric, Croatian Finance Minister Ivan Suker, and other government representatives. World Bank Assists Croatia in Modernizing Education System Croatian Finance Minister Ivan Suker and Country Director Anand Seth signed a loan for Euro 68 million for the Education Sector Development Project on October 17. The Project aims to improve teaching and student learning by introducing a wider range of appropriate pedagogical methods in addition to strengthening governance and management at all levels. To read the press release, click here. GEORGIA Second Anniversary of Rose Revolution Commemorated Georgia celebrated the second anniversary of its “Rose Revolution” on November 22 and 23 in Tbilisi at a conference titled “Europe's New Wave of Liberation: Democracy and Transformation.” Speakers included Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, other government leaders, civil society representatives, and academics from around the world. World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz gave a video address to the audience, praising Georgia for its progress over the past two years and calling on the country to commit to further reforms. President Wolfowitz’s speech can be read and viewed here. KAZAKHSTAN KazakhstanSupports Rehabilitation And Management Of Forests A US$30 million loan for the Forest Protection and Reforestation Project was approved by the World Bank’s Board on November 29. The Project aims to develop cost-effective and sustainable environmental rehabilitation and management of forest lands and associated rangelands, with a focus on the Irtysh pine forest, the dry Aral Seabed, and saxaul rangelands. The project will address a number of key issues in the forest sector of Kazakhstan. Click here for the press release. WB and Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company Sign Loan The World Bank and the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company JSC signed a loan agreement on November 22 for Phase II of the North-South Electricity Transmission Project. Preparation of this US$100 million infrastructure loan took only 4.5 months and US$90,000 to go from Project Concept Note to Board Approval. The project will help ensure access to a reliable, cost-effective, and high-quality supply of electricity for business enterprises and households in southern Kazakhstan. It also supports regional integration by optimizing the use of energy resources through the international electricity trade. It will help to promote national and regional competition by allowing low-cost producers in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyz Republicto compete on the broader regional market. To read the press release, click here. FYR MACEDONIA FYR Macedonia Granted Candidate Status from European Commission The European Commission recommended on November 9 that the European Council grant candidate country status to FYR Macedonia. The conclusion states that important steps are underway in meeting the European Union’s acquis communitaire and that candidacy status is a political recognition of the closer relationship between the EU and FYR Macedonia on its way to membership. No specific date for starting the actual negotiations was provided. The Commission stated negotiations will open once FYR Macedonia has reached a sufficient degree of compliance with the membership criteria. A report on progress will be presented to the Council no later than the end of 2006. MOLDOVA MoldovaCompetitiveness Enhancement Project Signed The credit and grant agreements for the Competitiveness Enhancement Project were signed on November 14. The Project is co-financed by a Policy and Human Resources Development Grant from the Government of Japan signed on the same date. The Project will assist the Government of Moldova in enhancing competitiveness of enterprises by improving the business environment and making adequate standards, testing, and quality improvement services available to enterprises. Click here for the press release. ROMANIA World Bank Supports Knowledge Economy in Romania The World Bank’s Board approved a US$60 million loan for a Knowledge Economy Project on November 29. The Project supports the country’s objectives of promoting growth through private sector development by promoting the use of Information Communications Technology as a means of driving micro- and SME-led growth, building human capital, and reducing poverty in line with European integration objectives. The Project will promote wider access to the Internet and aims to reduce the disparity between urban and rural areas in terms of digital literacy and Internet use. Click here for the press release. RUSSIA Ministerial Conference on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance A Ministerial Conference on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) in Europe and North Asia (ENA) from November 22 to 25 in St. Petersburgbrought together governments, private sector, and civil society to tackle the complex issues of illegal logging and forest sector governance. Initiated by the Russian Federation and co-hosted by the World Bank, participants in ENA FLEG include up to 50 Ministers and deputy ministers from Eastern European and Central Asian countries, as well as high-level officials from Canada, the United States , Western Europe, and Asia. Shigeo Katsu and Country Director Kristalina Georgieva participated in the conference. Kristalina noted the ongoing dialogue between governments, the private sector, and NGOs, and emphasized the World Bank’s interest in resolving the issue of illegal logging. Click here for the press release. Press Conference on the Launch of the Russian Economic Report The press conference for the launch of the Russian Economic Report #11 was held at the Russia Country Office on November 1. The report focused on regional development and policy in Russia, and migration and economic development. John Litwack, Chief Economist for Russia, presented the report. More than 40 representatives of local and international news agencies, newspapers, television, and radio participated in the conference. The Report raised great interest and was widely covered by the press. SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO West Balkan Development Marketplace Launched The Serbia and Montenegro Country Office marked the launch of the West Balkan Development Marketplace 2006 in Serbia and Montenegro at a press conference held on November 19. Country Manager Carolyn Jungr presented the regional competition to representatives of major news agencies, print and electronic media, NGOs, academia, and think tanks. The theme of this regional Development Marketplace is “Creating Jobs in the Formal Sector,” with a particular interest in innovative ideas that address the problem of youth unemployment and that foster regional cooperation. Click here for the press release. Conference on Regional Infrastructure for South East Europe The South East Europe (SEE) Regional Road Infrastructure Safety and Funding Conference was held in Belgrade on November 16 and 17 and sponsored by the Serbian Ministry of Capital Investments and the European Commission's Technical Assistance Information Exchange Unit. 150 delegates representing government agencies in the SEE region, NGOs and other stakeholders attended the event. Cesar Queiroz from the Transport and Urban Development Department gave an overview of the basic principles of successful public-private partnerships and common provisions of concession laws and toll road laws, including best practices in the broader European region, and focused on a possible role for the World Bank. SLOVAK REPUBLIC 8th Central European Initiative Summit Economic Forum organized in Bratislava The Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic organized the 8th Central European Initiative (CEI) Summit Economic Forum in Bratislava on November 23 and 24. The Forum provided an opportunity for industry leaders; senior government officials from 17 CEI member countries; regional, national and international organizations; and financial institutions to discuss structural reforms for improving business environment and development strategies for increasing competitiveness, with a special focus on energy, infrastructure, and human resources. There was a session dedicated to the World Bank, with ECCU7 Country Director Daniela Gressani, ECCU2 Country Director Paul Bermingham, and Albania Country Manager Nadir Mohammed participating in the discussion. The discussion was chaired by Franz Kaps, WB Special Representative for Southeast Europe in Brussels, and the main topics discussed included challenges and difficulties the World Bank is facing when working in the region. TURKEY World Bank Supports Gas Sector Development in Turkey The World Bank approved on November 29 a loan of US$325 million to support the Gas Sector Development Project. The project’s main objective is to increase the reliability and stability of the gas supply in Turkey by putting into place critically needed gas storage and network infrastructure, and supporting the petrol company BOTAS in strengthening its operations as a financially stable and commercially managed corporation. Click here for the press release. Grant for Youth Development and Inclusion in Turkey The World Bank signed an agreement with the General Secretariat of Youth and Sport on November 23, launching a grant of US$1,872 million from the Government of Japan to be executed by the Youth and Sport Foundation. The objective of the grant is to contribute to increased social cohesion in Turkey by promoting and supporting the participation of young people in the economic and social life of the community through an integrated package of youth-oriented services and opportunities in selected regions. Click here for the press release. Third Export Finance Intermediation Loan Signed on November 9 The World Bank and the Turkish Government signed the agreements for a US$305 million equivalent Third Export Finance Intermediation Loan on November 9. This loan is the third of its kind to Turkey. The project will provide medium and long-term working capital and investment finance to Turkish private exporting enterprises at a time when the economy is showing strong signs of growth and export performance is on the rise, thus increasing the demand for longer term credit, while the financial sector is still unable to support these trends with much-needed longer term funds at a reasonable cost. The project will help build capacity of the leasing sector in Turkey, provide an opportunity to gain more insight into the sector, and enable further support to its development. Click here for the press release. UKRAINE World Bank Supports Social Assistance System Modernization in Ukraine The loan agreement for the Social Assistance System Modernization Project was signed on November 28 in Kyiv by Ivan Sakhan, Minister of Labor and Social Policy, and Country Director Paul Bermingham. The World Bank approved a US$99.4 million loan for this project on November 17. This three-year project will help improve the effectiveness of Ukraine’s social assistance system by better targeting cash benefits and reducing the burden on beneficiaries. The project will support the implementation of the Government’s administrative reform. It aims to transform Ukraine’s scattered social assistance into a unified, function-based, streamlined, and client-oriented structure. Click here for the press release.
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