Visit of the World Bank Sustainable Development Department Director

  Azerbaijan - World Bank cooperation holds promise as Bank's department director discusses ties in Baku

          Peter Thomson, the World Bank's director of sustainable development department for the region of Europe and Central Asia, which is responsible for projects in infrastructure, energy, environment and agriculture in 29 countries, visited Azerbaijan on July 21-25. The purpose of  the visit was to review with the Government of Azerbaijan the progress of projects supported by the World Bank and to discuss the Bank's future engagement in the development of  the country.

          Only during last 12 months the World Bank has approved 11 loans in the total ammount of more than $1.2 billion for Azerbaijan. These projects cover a wide range of areas from highways and railways to water supply and sanitation, rural development, and environmental clean-up. These projects add up to the already significant project portfolio of the Bank in the road, energy, water and irrigation sectors. In fact, Peter Thomson had a chance to review progress of some of these projects by travelling from Baku to Shamakhi, a 120 km road being upgraded from a World Bank loan. While current construction works cause some trouble to travellers of this road leading to the country's some of the most picturesque regions during this holiday season, it's believed that upgrading of the road will be finished as planned in a little bit over one year from now.

           Mr. Thomson also attended a public presentation of the National Water Supply and Sanitation Project that will improve water and sewerage services in several dozens regions of the country.

          Another field trip was to the area of a future large-scale environmental operation in the Absheron peninsula and Hovsan Wastewater Treatment Plan that treats almost all wastewater generated in Baku.

Discussions with the senior government officials, including Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, several ministers and government's implementing agencies demonstrated genuine interest from the Government to work with the World Bank in order to ensure quality preparation, implementation and supervision of the ambitious development and reconstruction program. In the light of increasing revenues of the Government, the Bank's in-house expertise and ability to draw the best international experience is even more important for the country. This willingness to collaborate, and further expand the cooperation, have been acknowledged in all meetings. From its side, Bank reconfirmed its commitment to building the local human resource capacity, and to using programmatic approach in its work in all sectors to address systemic weaknesses.