Portfolio Review Meeting stresses on concerted efforts for project execution

Kathmandu / April 21: The development partners and the government officials have stressed on joint efforts towards resolving problems encountered in implementation of the development projects.

Speaking in the tripartite portfolio review meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded projects under implementation in the country here today, government high officials concerned with the projects and the ADB officials spoke on the need of collaboration in resolving problems.

The meeting held extensive discussions on the set targets of the different ADB-funded projects in the country and their outcome. Twenty-three projects are under implementation with the loan assistance and 21 under the grant assistance of the ADB.

All those attending the meeting were one regarding the need for all sides to be serious towards expediting the project works and completing them in the designated time.

Discussions focused on extension of the power transmission and supply improvement, expansion of the energy system, the Tanahun Hydropower Project, the Melamchi Water Supply Project, the Kathmandu Valley Sewage Management, improvement of water supply in the Kathmandu Valley, the Integrated Urban Environment Improvement Project, the Integrated Bagmati River Bank Improvement and the Integrated Urban Development Project.

Likewise, discussions were also held in the meeting on South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development, Air Transport Capacity Enhancement, the Kathmandu Sustainable Urban Transport Project and the Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project in the education sector.

Deliberations were also held on challenges and progress in agriculture, natural resources and rural development sector, building climate resilience of watersheds in mountain eco-regions and decentralised rural infrastructure and livelihood- II.

ADB Country Director Kenichi Yokoyama expressed the belief that the portfolio review meeting would provide a guideline for resolving the problems encountered by the ADB-funded projects. He said that contract worth 414 million US Dollars on different projects were expected to be signed this year and 246 million US Dollars distributed for the implementation of the projects.

The review meeting was chaired by Diwesh Sharan, ADB’s Deputy Director General in the South Asia Department.

Chief of the Finance Ministry, International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Baikuntha Aryal said the Government of Nepal will lend every support for resolving the problems faced by the development partners in project implementation. RSS