World Bank Roundup

Cape Verde Approved May 21: credit of $11.4 million fromthe International Development Association (IDA) for a capacitybuilding project for private sector promotion. The two-part projectwill finance institutional support to the Export and InvestmentPromotion Center, including construction, promotion, establishmentof facilities and two new chambers of commerce. It will also financetechnical support to the central bank and other financial institutions.For more information, call Eric Chinje (202) 473-4467, fax 473-7917,e-mail echinje@worldbank.org.

Egypt Approved May 21: IDA credit of $120 million for thesecond phase of the social fund project, which includes: a small-scale,labor intensive public works program; a community developmentprogram targeting community and NGO participation, capacity building,women, the poor and the unemployed; a credit program for bankloans and technical assistance to entrepreneurs; a human resourcedevelopment program to support labor mobility in private sectorcompanies affected by trade liberalization; and an institutionaldevelopment program.

Approved May 21: an IDA credit of $15 million and a loan fromthe International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)of $20 million to help reduce industrial pollution in Cairo, Alexandriaand the Suez Canal cities. The project will establish a fund toprovide loans and grants to industries to help them comply withenvironmental standards. It will also provide technical assistance,training, monitoring equipment and field vehicles. For more information,call Jeannie Yamine (202) 473-2318, fax 477-7978, e-mail jyamine@worldbank.org.

India. Approved May 16: IDA credit of $63 million for acoal sector environmental and social mitigation project to helpCoal India improve access to schools, health care, water supplyand other facilities in communities surrounding 25 coal mines.The project consists of technical assistance; environmental action,rehabilitation and indigenous peoples development plans for selectedmines; and the review and/or implementation of remedial actionfor the resettlement and rehabilitation measures taken by CoalIndia. For more information, call Paul Mitchell (202) 458-1423,fax 477-1245, e-mail pmitchell1@worldbank.org.

Indonesia Approved May 16: IBRD loan of $142.7 millionfor the second East Java urban development project, which willbenefit more than 5 million people. The loan will finance investmentsin water supply, urban roads, drainage and flood control, solidwaste management, sanitation and sewerage, neighborhood and marketimprovement programs and urban renewal. It will also support localinstitutional development action plans and technical assistance.For more information, call Lauren Ptito (202) 458-0358, fax 522-3405,e-mail lptito@worldbank.org.

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Approved May 16:IDA credit of $7.9 million to strengthen technology-related servicesto private farmers. The project includes pilot initiatives todevelop cost-sharing arrangements with farmer associations; supportfor applied agricultural research, privatization of veterinaryservices and development of epidemiological and quarantine services;development of a market news and information service; and assistanceto improve access to commercial credit and the institutional capacityof commercial banks.

Approved May 16: IBRD loan of DM 18 million for a private sectordevelopment project that will provide private financing to creditworthyprivate enterprises to improve profitability and to farmers toincrease agricultural output. Bilateral and multilateral donorswill provide a technical assistance program directly related tothe project. For more information, call Jan Pakulski (202) 473-1797,fax 522-3362, e-mail jpakulski@worldbank.org.

Philippines. Approved May 21: IBRD loan of $57 millionto finance a second sewerage project in Manila, including: constructionof three barge loading stations for sewerage disposal at sea andone pilot treatment plant; rehabilitation of the Central and Ayalasystems and of the Ayala treatment plant; laboratory instruments,equipment, tools, spare parts and specialized vehicles; and implementationsupport. For more information, call Lauren Ptito (202) 458-0358,fax 522-3405, e-mail lptito@worldbank.org.

Tajikistan. Approved May 16: IDA credit of $5 million foran institution building technical assistance project for the StateProperty Committee (SPC), the Agriculture Ministry (MOA) and thefinancial sector. The project will help SPC implement privatizationand MOA develop or revise legislation, and will help upgrade anumber of key operations considered crucial for the success ofbanking reform. For more information, call Jan Pakulski (202)473-1797, fax 522-3362, e-mail jpakulski@worldbank.org.

Ukraine Approved May 16: IBRD loan of $15.8 million tomitigate the social and environmental consequences of the government'sdecision to close unprofitable coal mines by testing ways to closemines safely (with due regard for technical, environmental, economic,financial and social aspects), ensuring that workers have otherjob prospects, and monitoring and evaluating the pilot projectfor subsequent operations elsewhere in the sector. For more information,call Jan Pakulski (202) 473-1797, fax 522-3362, e-mail jpakulski@worldbank.org.