16
January 2009
Japanese
Prime Minister telephoned Ms. Sheikh Hasina, Expressed His
Congratulations for the New Government and Pledged Yen Loan
Assistance Package of 40 Billion Yen (approx. 440 Million USD)
for Electricity and Bridges Projects
Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Taro Aso held
telephone talks with Prime Minister Ms. Sheikh Hasina on
January 16th (Fri). The following is an overview of
the talks.
At the outset of the conversation, Ms.
Hasina expressed her deep appreciation for the dispatch of
election observers to the national election December last
year.
Prime Minister Aso replied that he
received the report of Japanese election observer team that
the national election was conducted in a free and fair manner.
He continued to express his belief that the success of the
national election proves that democratic governance is all the
more deeply rooted in Bangladesh and that the national
election was most appropriate for the new beginning of
Bangladesh democracy.
Prime Minister Aso said that Japan and
Bangladesh have enjoyed cordial relationship for long time and
expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the cooperation in
various international arenas. He said that the Government of
Japan has decided to provide the Yen Loan Package of 40
billion Yen (approx. 440 million USD) for the construction of
power plant project, the power distribution project and the
bridge improvement project for the purpose of supporting the
Bangladesh Government, which was elected through democratic
process.
Prime Minister Hasina said that she is
grateful for the assistance from Japan which has always been a
good friend of Bangladesh since its liberation time and she
requested for continued support for the development of
Bangladesh. The telephone talks were concluded with the
warmest atmosphere.
Pledge on Japan’s
30th Loan Package
16th
January 2009, Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Aso, pledged the
30th Japanese Yen Loan Package to Bangladesh during
the telephone talks with Honorable Prime Minister of
Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. The Package amounts to 39,749
million yen (Taka 52,468 million equivalent, or USD 439
million equivalent), comprising the following three Projects:
(1)
New Haripur Power Plant (360 MW) Development Project
(Part II),
22,210 million Yen
(Taka 29,317 mill or USD 245 mill. equivalent)
(2)
Central Zone Power Distribution Project,
9,715 million
Yen（Taka
12,824 mill or USD 107 mill. equivalent）
(3)
Eastern Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project.
7,824 Million
Yen (Taka 10,328 mill or USD 86 mill. equivalent)
This New Loan
Package reflects Japan’s strong intention to support the long
term development of Bangladesh, and priority policy of the
newly elected government for poverty reduction, economic
growth, and improvement of quality of life of the people.
Japan is one of most active development partners assisting
development of power and transportation sectors of Bangladesh.
The conditions of
the loans are the most generous. The interest rate is 0.01%
per annum and the repayment period is 40 years inclusive of
10-year grace period for the three loans, in accordance with
“Minimal Interest Rate Initiative (MIRAI).” on Japan’s ODA
loans.
Over the last few
years, the Japanese government has been sharply increasing the
level of its loan assistance to Bangladesh. Recent Japan’s
loans are as follows: 42,902 million yen (USD 473 million)(in
2007), 24,906 million yen (USD 275 million)(in 2006) and
11,345 million yen (USD 125 million)(in 2005).
The accumulated
total commitment of Japan’s Loan to Bangladesh since 1973 is
approximately 671 billion Japanese yen (Taka 886 billion
equivalent, or USD 7.4 billion equivalent) for 80 projects
including three projects under new package.
Highlights of the Projects
(Japan’s 30th Loan Package)
New Haripur Power Plant Development Project (II)
-
Objective and Outline: In order to increase power supply
capacity under recent serious power shortage thereby improving
industrial competitiveness and people’s living conditions, the
project will construct 360 MW gas combined cycle thermal power
plant near Dhaka, as well as provide technical assistance to
build operational capacity of the executing agency for the
plant. This project is the second phase of “New Haripur Power
Plant Development Project” under 29th Japanese Yen
Loan Package to Bangladesh.
-
Loan
Amount: 22,210 million Yen (Taka 29,317 mil. or USD 245 mil.
equivalent)
(Total Loan Amount
of Part I and II: 39,977 million Yen )
-
Executing Agency: Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh
(EGCB)
Central Zone Power Distribution Project
-
Objective and Outline: With the objective to improve the
quality of the power distribution in the Greater Mymensingh
and Sylhet Zones thereby contributing economic growth,
regional development and improvement of living standard, the
project will develop/rehabilitate power distribution
facilities, as well as strengthen the institutional capacity
of North East Zone Power Distribution Company (NEZPDC).
-
Loan
Amount: 9,715 million Yen (Taka 12,824 mil. or USD 107 mil.
equivalent)
-
Executing Agency: Initially, Bangladesh Power Development
Board (BPDB), then North East Zone Power Distribution Company
(NEZPDC) will be in charge after it is established.
Eastern Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project
-
Objective and Outline: In order to promote reliable and
efficient transportation thereby contributing to revitalize
local economy and reducing economic and social disparities
among regions, this project will replace, rehabilitate and
construct small and medium sized bridges in Eastern
Bangladesh, as well as improve the bridge maintenance capacity
of the executing agency.
-
Loan
Amount: 7,824 million Yen (Taka 10,328 mil. or USD 86 mil.
equivalent)
-
Executing Agency: Roads and Highways Department (RHD)
<Recent Japanese ODA to Power Sector Projects in Bangladesh>
Power Plant
§
Sylhet Combined Cycle Power Plant Project (Loan: Yen 14,113
million)
§
Haripur Gas Turbine Power Plant Expansion Project (Loan: Yen
15,100 million)
§
New
Haripur Power Plant Development Project (Loan: Yen 17,767
million)
§
Kaptai Hydro Power Plant Maintenance and Overhaul (JDCF: Taka
2,000 million)
§
Rehabilitation of Ashuganj Power Plant (DRGA: 7,380 million
Yen)
§
Development Study for Beramara Power Plant (2007-2009)
Transmission, Distribution and Rural Electrification
§
Power
Distribution and Efficiency Enhancement Project (Loan: Yen
4,376 million)
§
Grid
Substations and Assosiated Transmission Lines Development
Project (Loan: Yen 4,542 million)
§
Area
Coverage Rural Electrification Project (Phase IV-C) (Loan: Yen
5,442 million)
§
Rural
Electrification Project (Phase V-B) (Loan: Yen 1,450 million)
T/A for Capacity Development
§
TA
Project “Strengthening Management and Performance Standards in
Power Sector of Bangladesh through Promotion of TQM (Total
Quality Management)” (2006-2009)
§
Advisor for Power Sector in Power Division (since 2004)
<Selected Japanese ODA to Transport Sector (Bridge only) in
Bangladesh>
Bridge Construction
§
Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Construction Project(Loan: Yen
21,562 million)
§
Paksey Bridge Construction Project (Loan: Yen 18.066 million )
§
Rupsha Bridge Construction Project(Loan: 8,300 million)
§
Construction of the Meghna Bridge(Grant: Yen 7,975 million)
§
Construction of the Meghna Gumti Bridge (Grant: Yen 8,203
million)
§
Feasibility study on Padma Bridge Construction Project
(Technical Cooperation: 2003)
Bridge Rehabilitation and Maintenance
§
Portable Steel Bridges on Rural Roads(Grant: Yen 4,435
million)
§
Reconstruction of Small and Medium Bridges on Dhaka-Chittagong
Highway (Grant: 2,837 million)
§
Expert for Road/Bridge Maintenance in RHD (since 2004)
(END)
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