The Hindu Business Line : `ADB priorities closely linked to Govt's plan'

THE President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr Tadao Chino, on Friday indicated that the regional development bank would progressively focus its assistance programme on poorer States , including Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Uttaranchal and West Bengal.

Mr Chino, on a three-day visit accompanied by Mr Kunio Senga, Director General of ADB's South Asia Regional Department, today held meetings with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

This is the ADB President's first visit to India since the new Government was elected in May.

In his discussions with the Prime Minister, Mr Chino stressed that the ADB's operational priorities in India are closely linked to the priorities of the Government's common minimum programme of aiming for high growth along with social and economic equity.

In line with the Government's priorities, the ADB will continue to lay emphasis on assistance for infrastructure, but also strengthen its work on agriculture, water resources, and rural development, which are essential for job creation and poverty reduction. Mr Singh expressed his appreciation of ADB's assistance to India.

Mr Chidambaram strongly endorsed the ADB's focus on infrastructure and appreciated the ADB's planned assistance for the accelerated irrigation benefits programme (AIPB) and rehabilitation of traditional tank irrigation systems.

He also encouraged ADB to further strengthen its operations in the poorer States and the North East.

Mr Chino said that ADB is also assisting rehabilitation and reconstruction in Jammu & Kashmir and is developing a project in the State for reconstruction of essential infrastructure.

The ADB is a key development partner of India with planned lending of $1.8 billion in 2004 and lending levels likely to exceed $2 billion per annum over the next few years.

The ADB's programme in India supports the Government's priority of aiming for high economic growth with a pro-poor emphasis.

Mr Chino also emphasised the importance of South Asian regional cooperation, which he noted is critically dependent on the active involvement of India.