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In this issue, read about Asia's progress toward the Millennium Development Goals, ADB's work in and partnership with Central Asian countries, what President Haruhiko Kuroda has to say on ADB and climate change, and over $1.4 billion in new loans approved. Included are feature stories on innovative ADB projects that are helping address Asia's hidden hunger and improve agricultural productivity. Also, find out the latest on ADB events, publications, opportunities, and operations.
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| The New Silk Road will Reconnect Central Asia |
| Eight countries on 3 November 2007 agreed to an $18 billion strategy to improve Central Asia's network of roads, airports, railway lines, and seaports to make the region a vital transit route for trade between Europe and Asia-a modern-day equivalent of the ancient Silk Road. |
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| President Kuroda Conducts Official Visit to Central Asia |
ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan during a seven-day official trip to Central Asia from 29 October to 4 November 2007. The President met with heads of state and senior government officials, signed a loan agreement and visited ADB-supported projects, and attended the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program in Dushanbe together with ADB Vice President Liqun Jin. Read the related news release.
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| Asia's Growth can Provide Economic, Social Benefits to All-Joint MDG Report |
The 2007 joint progress report on the Millennium Development Goals, released in ADB on 8 October 2007, says that the Asia and Pacific region is well on track and ahead of Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa to reduce extreme poverty by half, attain universal education, and achieve gender parity in education by the target year 2015. However, there is uneven progress among countries and many of the less developed economies need global support to plug some of their key development gaps. Read the full report.
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$510 Million to Promote Renewable Energy in Pakistan
The multitranche loan, the first of its kind in Pakistan and one of the first to be developed under ADB’s evolving clean energy and efficiency initiative, will expand Pakistan’s power supply, especially in rural areas. See the project information.
The comprehensive road network program involves the construction, upgrade, and rehabilitation of about 9,500 kilometers of 124 priority roads, as well as priority reforms. See the project information.
The program will facilitate the expansion of public sector health and education expenditures, and assist the Government in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of this additional expenditure.
ADB's First Loan to Armenia to Improve Rural Roads
Backed by a $30.6 million loan, the project will rehabilitate about 220 kilometers of rural roads and improve transport sector management in Armenia. See the project information.
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| Better Rice for Asia's Poor |
Millions of Asia's poor survive daily on simple meals consisting mostly of rice, resulting in micronutrient malnutrition. Thus, even small improvements in the nutritional value of rice could have a substantial impact on health in the region. Since the 1990s, ADB has been supporting research into the potential of a biofortified, high iron rice to address Asia's hidden hunger.
A New Stem of Hope
Grafting a new stem into an old cacao plant, a technique introduced by an ADB project, has helped Mandong Kana and many other farmers in Donggala District in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, improve their agricultural productivity and livelihood.
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NOVEMBER 2007
