Contacts: In Brasília: Mauro Azeredo (55-61) 3329-1059 mazeredo@worldbank.org In Washington: Gabriela Aguilar (202) 473-6768 gaguilar2@worldbank.org Washington DC, February 27th, 2008- The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved yesterday a US$ 35 million loan to increase incomes from sustainable use of natural resources and to increase access to basic water and health services in Alto Solimões, in the State of Amazonas, Brazil. The Alto Solimões Basic Services and Sustainable Development Project, in support of the State’s Zona Franca Verde Program, will improve the economic and social conditions through the sustainable use of natural resources. The project seeks to promote growth by generating employment and increasing incomes of the poor communities in the area, one for the most inaccessible parts of the State. It will also support regional development and environmental protection by promoting sustainable management of forest and natural resources. "This World Bank loan will make it possible to improve the access and quality of services for a significant part of the population of the State of Amazonas, especially in the Alto Solimões region," said Denis Benchimol Minev, Secretary of Planning and Economic Development of the State of Amazonas. In addition to the growth and income-generating actions, the project will benefit Alto Solimões’ 230,000 inhabitants by also improving access to basic water and health services for communities located in the interior of the State of Amazonas. “This innovative project contributes to the State’s overarching development strategy, that aims to show that it is possible to both improve the lives of the State’s over 3 million inhabitants and conserve the extraordinary natural resources of the Amazon,” said John Briscoe, World Bank Director for Brazil. “This project is an important component of a growing portfolio of World Bank Group investments which support the Federal and State Governments of Brazil in reconciling development and conservation in the Amazon” The project will center on policy development and institutional strengthening, and on logistical and institution support for the execution of the State’s Green Free Zone Program. It will promote the sustainable use of its renewable natural resources and will develop a new institutional, regulatory, legal, operational and financial framework for water supply and sanitation provision. The loan is a fixed-spread-loan in US dollars, with repayments in 17 years including a five year grace period. For more information on the Alto Solimões Basic Services and Sustainable Development Project, please visit: http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P083997 For more information on World Bank’s program in Brazil please visit: http://www.bancomundial.org.br |
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