Loan No. 2171: Agribusiness Development Project

The Republic of Pakistan has applied for a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) towards the cost of Agribusiness Development Project. The loan was approved 19 May 2005.

The Project will address constraints that impede development of the sector, and exploit domestic and export market opportunities in the agribusiness sector, thereby contributing to increased economic growth and rural employment. The Project will promote the realization of these opportunities by
  1. improving the managerial, production, and processing skill levels of entrepreneurs and farmers to ensure the production of good quality raw material, and uniform and high standard products;
  2. supporting participating financial institutions to increase agribusiness lending to allow stakeholders to exploit market opportunities;
  3. reorienting government institutions to become facilitators of agribusiness development, using public partnerships;
  4. improving the policy, regulatory, and financial environment to make it more responsive to private sector needs, and encourage producers and entrepreneurs to invest in agribusiness; and
  5. establishing the framework and standards to comply with increasingly stringent international standards.

Procurement
Goods and related services financed by ADB will be procured following ADB Guidelines for Procurement. Supply contracts for equipment or materials are not expected to exceed $500,000, but should such a contract be required it will be awarded on the basis of international competitive bidding. Those costing less than the equivalent of $500,000 (other than minor items) will be awarded on the basis of local competitive bidding, or as applicable, international shopping. Direct purchase will be used for small or off-the-shelf items valued at less than $100,000. The Project Management Unit will procure the equipment and vehicles

Consulting Services
A total of 221 person-months of international and 128 person-months of domestic consulting inputs will be financed under the Project. The consultants, to be financed under the loan, will be recruited in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants using a quality and cost-based selection method and other arrangements satisfactory to ADB for the engagement of domestic consultants.

Interested bidders from ADB's member countries who wish obtain additional information may contact:
Mr. Mohammad Ismail Qureshi
Secretary
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: 92 51 922 1246

General Procurement Notice