2024-09-09 05:55:34
As part of the budget support, 400 million dollars will be available from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) by December this year, said Finance and Trade Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.
The Finance Advisor informed the journalists after a courtesy meeting with the delegation of ABD and Japan International Development Agency (JICA) and the Australian High Commissioner (Acting) appointed in Dhaka at the Ministry of Finance’s own office in the Secretariat on Sunday (September 8).
In response to a question from journalists, Salehuddin Ahmed said that all three (ADB, JICA and Australia) are positive about providing funds. ADB budget support will come. ADB will provide $400 million by December. The IMF will provide $4.7 billion. We have asked for another 3 billion dollars.
He said, JICA is our important development partner. Many of our important projects are funded by them. We asked to continue the physical infrastructure loans, they will continue. Apart from this, I talked about two other things. One of them is disaster management and technical issues.
Has the flow of foreign loans decreased? In response to a question from journalists, the financial adviser said that the flow of foreign loans was correct. The flow did not come down at all. But there are many questions about their use.
Salehuddin Ahmed said, the three who came today are our development partners. We have spoken to all of them, asked them to strengthen the ongoing support that they had so far.
He said, Australia is also our important development partner. Because all the support they provide has a direct impact. Australia is a much larger country than Europe, Canada and the UK. They cooperate by doing it as a fund. They have expressed interest in regional trade. We have said that Bangladesh’s regional trade with very limited countries. If Australia comes here we can join ASEAN.
He said, regional trade is more necessary. There we are limited. So we have an economic future with Australia. They want to invest in energy, agriculture sector.
The advisor said that discussions have been held with three development partner countries. They assured us.