March, 2001: Rainmaking

By Greg Rushford
Published in the Rushford Report

The World Bank has identified the following new prospects for international practitioners and consultants. The bank requests that further information about individual projects be obtained directly from the borrowing country’s implementing agency. Firms should contact the World Bank “preferably by fax,” at (202) 522-3318, according to the World Bank Business Affairs Adviser, Procurement Policy and Coordination Unit. The World Bank also has a Public Information Center at 1776 G St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20433 (pic@worldbank.org), where country economic reports, environmental assessments, and project information documents (called PIDs) are available. Other World Bank documents are available on the Internet at: http://www.worldbank.org.

BENIN: This $18 million program will aim to “strengthen Benin’s competitiveness in international export markets” by making a “successful transition from the current monopolistic and centrally administered” cotton sector. Contact: Henay Essouma, Conseller techniqe a l’organisation paysanne, Ministry of Rural Development, PO Box 03-2900, Cotonou, Benin, Tel: (229) 30-04-10; Fax: (229) 30-03-26.

CAMBODIA: Two new projects: The first will be a $15 million demobilization program, the objectives of which are to reduce military spending and promote poverty reduction by supporting the former soldiers during a “transition phase” to civilian life. Contact: Mr. Svay Sitha, Under-Secretary of State. The second is a $30 million “provincial and rural infrastructure” project aimed at poverty reduction in four provinces: Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear. The project, which has some Japanese funding, will aim at developing small-scale contractors through pilot promoting businesses in road works, transport, tourism, and delivery of water and electricity services. Contact: Mr. Tauch Chankosal, Director, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tel: (855-23) 723-515; Fax: (855-23) 723-515; WBPIU@camnt.com.kh.

PHILIPPINES: This will be a $60 million project aimed funding investments to address the disposal of solid and hazardous waste and “desludging” highly polluted sections of the lake at Laguna de Bay. No further details until agreement is reached between the Philippine government and the Bank on the “institutional framework” to identify priority investments.

VIETNAM: Two projects: The first is a $20 million program to support a three-year effort to establish blood services that will ensure safe blood transfusions according to WHO standards at regional centers in the northern, central and southern regions. Contact: Dr. Duong Huy Lieu, Director, Department of Planning, Ministry of Health, 138A Giang Vo St., Hanoi, Vietnam, Jtel: (84-48) 464-058; Fax: (84-48) 456-056. The second is a $42 million program aimed at improving living conditions in low-income urban areas “through interventions in which the communities actively participate.” Contact: Nguyen Dang Can, Director General, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Construction and Municipal Governments of Haiphong and Ho Chi Minh City, 37 Le Dai Hanh St., Hanoi, Vietnam, Tel: (84-4) 976-0478; Fax: (84-4) 976-2153; Cannd@fpt.vn.

LATVIA: This $40 million loan will continue Latvia’s “public sector structural adjustment program,” which focused on various macro-economic reforms aimed at “strengthening credibility of the public sector” and “improving its institutional capacity to deliver services and creating a transparent relationship with the private sector.” Contact: Roberts Zile, Minister of Special Assignments, Ministry of Cooperation with International Financial Agencies, Ministry of Finance, 1 Smilsu St., Riga, Latvia.

NICARAGUA: This will be a $5 million “competitiveness” loan to “test private-public partnerships for developing consensus for introducing reform on business environment issues,” and to support “sustainable information technology-based business developmental services.” Contact: Carlos Vega, Vicepresidencia de la Republica de Nicaragua, De los Sem foros del Hotel Intercontinental, 1 cuadra al Lago, Edif. 1 a mano derecha, Managua, Nicaragua, Tel: (505) 228-3098; Fax: (505) 222-2313, cvega@vicepresidencia.gob.ni.

TOP