UNB, Dhaka :
A project to develop small businesses and employment opportunities through rural development investments in Bangladesh was formally launched on Wednesday.
State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan launched the project at a workshop in the city.
Senior Secretary, Economic Relations Division Mohammad Mejbahuddin spoke at the workshop, chaired by PKSF Chairman Kazi Kholikuzzaman. IFAD Country Programme Officer Nicolas Syed also attended the workshop, said an IFAD media release.
Among the project activities, financial services and technical training will be provided to 452,000 women and men in rural areas throughout the country. The Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) will implement the project.
“Bangladesh has had remarkable success in achieving the millennium development goals focused on universal primary education, promoting gender equality, empowering women, reducing child mortality and improving maternal health care,” said Mannan.
“The present government has also set a goal to become a middle-income country by 2021. I’m hopeful this new project will help reach that goal by creating employment opportunities for rural poor in Bangladesh.”
Kholikuzzaman said they have observed that new technologies along with technical assistance and financial services for targeted groups bring sustainable changes to livelihoods and expedite poverty reduction more quickly. “From that perspective, PACE will contribute towards reducing poverty significantly and boosting the Bangladesh economy.”
The total cost of the PACE project is US$92.9 million. IFAD will provide $40 million as loan and PKSF and its partner organisations will contribute $22.45 million and $30.04 million respectively.
Besides, Korea will provide $0.36 million as grant. The government of Bangladesh and IFAD signed a loan agreement on December 11, 2014.
Since 1,978, IFAD has invested a total of $673.9 million in 30 projects in Bangladesh benefitting nearly 10 million households.
A project to develop small businesses and employment opportunities through rural development investments in Bangladesh was formally launched on Wednesday.
State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan launched the project at a workshop in the city.
Senior Secretary, Economic Relations Division Mohammad Mejbahuddin spoke at the workshop, chaired by PKSF Chairman Kazi Kholikuzzaman. IFAD Country Programme Officer Nicolas Syed also attended the workshop, said an IFAD media release.
Among the project activities, financial services and technical training will be provided to 452,000 women and men in rural areas throughout the country. The Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) will implement the project.
“Bangladesh has had remarkable success in achieving the millennium development goals focused on universal primary education, promoting gender equality, empowering women, reducing child mortality and improving maternal health care,” said Mannan.
“The present government has also set a goal to become a middle-income country by 2021. I’m hopeful this new project will help reach that goal by creating employment opportunities for rural poor in Bangladesh.”
Kholikuzzaman said they have observed that new technologies along with technical assistance and financial services for targeted groups bring sustainable changes to livelihoods and expedite poverty reduction more quickly. “From that perspective, PACE will contribute towards reducing poverty significantly and boosting the Bangladesh economy.”
The total cost of the PACE project is US$92.9 million. IFAD will provide $40 million as loan and PKSF and its partner organisations will contribute $22.45 million and $30.04 million respectively.
Besides, Korea will provide $0.36 million as grant. The government of Bangladesh and IFAD signed a loan agreement on December 11, 2014.
Since 1,978, IFAD has invested a total of $673.9 million in 30 projects in Bangladesh benefitting nearly 10 million households.
