WB provides $11.9bn to Europe, Central Asia in fiscal year 2014

PanARMENIAN.Net - The World Bank Group provided $11.9 billion to Europe and Central Asia (ECA) during fiscal year 2014, aimed at reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity in the region. Of this, IBRD/IDA provided $5.6 billion of support to the region, IFC delivered $4.7 billion in commitments, and MIGA provided $1.6 billion in political risk insurance and credit enhancement coverage.

Comprising 47 projects, the $5.6 billion of World Bank support to the region over the past fiscal year consists of $4.7 billion in commitments from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and $0.9 billion from the International Development Association (IDA), the Bank said on its website.

In addition, the Bank’s Europe and Central Asia region produced important research and analytical work about critical issues in the region this fiscal year. It also signed 33 Reimbursable Advisory Service agreements with 11 countries in the region for a total amount of $45 million. These agreements provide technical advice to pension and education systems reform, public sector governance and institutional capacity-building, planning and management of infrastructure investments, and other issues.

“Europe and Central Asia was the region hardest hit by the 2009 global economic crisis, and remains the slowest to recover. Although a modest rebound has occurred since 2010, GDP growth grew just 2.2 percent in 2013, and is expected to be only 1.7 percent in 2014,” said Laura Tuck, World Bank Vice President for the Europe and Central Asia Region.

The Bank is supporting Armenia and Croatia in their efforts to improve the efficiency and fiscal sustainability of their safety net and pension systems. It is helping improve health care systems in Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is working to strengthen social cohesion by supporting community-driven development and social accountability in the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. In Romania, it is helping governments improve economic opportunities and public services for disadvantaged communities, including the Roma and unemployed youth.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) this year supported private sector development in ECA with $4.7 billion in commitments in 117 projects, including $1.2 billion in funds mobilized from its partners. IFC also delivered a solid advisory program worth $40 million with a focus on projects in IDA countries, fragile and conflict affected countries, and climate change.

The IFC continued to build and strengthen regional capital markets with several landmark deals, issuing the first foreign corporate bond in Armenia.