2024-03-07 13:24:43
The Prime Minister’s Office has directed the concerned to take necessary steps to speed up the implementation of foreign funded projects. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister for the purpose of reviewing the progress on a quarterly basis. A five-member high-level committee has been formed under the leadership of Tofazzal Hossain.
The first meeting of the committee was held in the NEC conference room of the Planning Commission on Wednesday (March 6) under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. The meeting was attended by the member secretary of the committee, the chief activities department, the senior secretary of the planning department, Satyajit Karmakar and the senior secretaries/secretaries of the various ministries/departments concerned.
In the meeting, there was a detailed discussion on the financial concession/progress review of the 47 ministries/departments under the ADP of the financial year 2023-24, project determination in the light of Green and Climate Resilient Development (GCRD) principles and online project processing through the Project Planning System (PPS) software developed by the Planning Department. is
In the meeting, before sending the proposal for inclusion in the ADP/RADP unauthorized new project list to the Planning Commission, the Ministry/Department should check it properly and send it online through PPS software to the Planning Commission. Besides, instructions were given in the meeting to send it to the Project Planning Commission after proper verification in the light of GCRD policy for obtaining foreign funding.
In the proposed RADP for the financial year 2023-24, out of 47 ministries/departments in the project loan/grant sector, 10 ministries/departments (Power Department, Local Government Department, Railways Ministry, Science and Technology Ministry, Road Transport and Highways Department, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, Health Department of Services, Department of Bridges, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Ministry of Water Resources)- The amount allocated in favor is about 80 percent of the total allocation of project loans/grants in RADP.
RADP implementation progress largely depends on the implementation progress of these ministries/departments. As a result, the implementation progress of these ministries/departments was discussed in the meeting. At the same time, in the proposed RADP for the financial year 2023-24, projects of ministries/departments with progress below 34 percent in utilization of project loans/grants are discussed.
In the meeting, there was a detailed discussion on the reasons or challenges in the implementation of foreign funded projects. In view of this, the Chief Secretary emphasized on the appointment of PD (Project Director) at the time of approving the project and forming the pool according to the circular, for the project director to be recruited quickly and training on the necessary issues related to the use of project loan/grant. Besides, requested the Economic Relations Department (ERD) to hold meetings with all concerned, including ambassadors, if necessary, in order to facilitate obtaining consent/no objection (NOC) from development partners at every stage of the procurement process for implementation of foreign-funded projects.
At the same time, the Chief Secretary directed the ERD to take necessary steps to quickly resolve the complications arising in some projects implemented through the Line of Credit (LoC).
The meeting emphasized on increasing production and use of renewable energy for green and climate sustainable development. The Chief Secretary directed that no solar plant can be set up on agricultural land (regardless of crop) to meet the target of renewable energy production. He gave instructions for strict observance of that discipline.
Besides, the Chief Secretary requested the Senior Secretaries/Secretaries to be closely linked to the implementation of the project and to monitor it regularly. Above all, he requested for the regular organization of the meeting of the committee formed to review the implementation progress of the foreign funded projects and expressed hope that through collective efforts, the money exemption and implementation progress of the foreign funded projects will increase.