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p. 79 of 95 BACK | NEXT Message from the Chairman of the Board of Directors Members, Capital Stock and Voting Power The Record Abbreviations 2004 in Review: Board of Directors' Report Special Theme: The Changing Face of the Microfinance Industry: Building Financial Systems for the Poor Part 1: Institutional Effectiveness Part 2: Poverty Reduction Strategic Priorities Thematic Priorities Regional Perspectives East and Central Asia Mekong The Pacific South Asia Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Southeast Asia Part 3: Financial Statements: Management's Discussion and Analysis

Annual Report 2004 : Part 2: Poverty Reduction : South Asia

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Bangladesh

Strategy and Policy Dialogue. ADB operations continued to focus on poverty reduction. The key emphasis was on infrastructure, human development, governance, and environment. Policy dialogue with the government contributed to fostering reforms in the energy, transport, education, and urban sectors. In the energy sector, the thrust was on further progress toward autonomy and commercialization of sector entities. In the transport sector, the focus was on formulating the national land transport policy and on enhancing the efficiency of port operations through computerization and environmental improvements including containing oil spills.

The assistance program emphasized development of SMEs, improved quality of secondary education, improved urban flood protection, enhancing port capacity, and meeting international port security and environmental standards. For the development of SMEs, the stress was on strengthening the policy environment and improving access to credit and support services. A gender action plan will ensure the participation of women entrepreneurs in policy making, training programs, and credit fund allocations.

ADB's assistance will boost efficiency and security at Bangladesh's Chittagong Port. The emphasis will be on installing modern computer systems to expedite cargo processing which will lead to lower shipping and port-handling charges and will foster greater international trade. Several procedural and operational improvements will be addressed. These include enhancement of personnel skills, a strategic plan for increasing productivity and cutting costs, support for the preparation of an anticorruption strategy, modernization of procedures, revisions to tariffs, and better environmental management.

ADB undertook a joint mission with the World Bank to help the government to conduct a flood damage rehabilitation needs assessment following the severe flooding in the country during July–August 2004.

Loans and Technical Assistance. ADB approved seven loans for five projects totaling $249.5 million for SME development, for improving the quality of secondary teaching, for integrated flood protection of secondary towns, for Chittagong Port trade facilitation, and for the Grameenphone telecommunications project to expand the cellular network in Bangladesh. Twelve technical assistance grants totaling $6.3 million were also approved.

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