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Bangladesh expects nearly $2 billion aid in 2000/01

DHAKA: Bangladesh expects to receive nearly $2 billion in foreign aid in fiscal 2000/01 beginning in July, the official BSS news agency quoted Finance Minister S.A.M.S Kibria as saying on Tuesday.

"The aid flow would be significantly higher if the pace of reforms was accelerated," he said.

International donors including rich western nations, Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank will meet in Paris on April 13-14 to decide on Bangladesh's aid requirement for the new year.

Officials said earlier indications were the donors' assistance could range between $1.8 billion to $2.2 billion.

The aid disbursement was $765.4 million during the July-December period of fiscal 1999-2000 when total aid in the pipeline was recorded at nearly $6 billion, according to official figures. This related to undisbursed aid money in the pipeline which Bangladesh could not use due to delayed in project implementation.

The aid commitment was about $2 billion for the current year to finance development and imports. -Reuters