ADB, JAPAN TO HELP STRENGTHEN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT

DHAKA, Nov. 17  (nsnewswire) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh on 14 November 2013 signed a technical assistance (TA) grant agreement of $1,500,000 for strengthening the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to support the government’s institutional development initiatives.

The Government of Japan is financing the TA through the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction. ADB will administer the fund, and provide technical support for project implementation.

The technical assistance project will help modernize the RHD and streamline its business processes. It will also support RHD to improve its schemes for maintenance of roads and bridges, and overloading control. The technical assistance forms part of ABD’s attempt to strengthen the capacity of the overall road sector in the country, recent example of which also includes the ongoing South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Project that will enhance capacity of major international trade corridors and land ports, thereby boosting the national economy as well as facilitating subregional cooperation and trade.

“This TA will help improve human resources, auditing, management information systems, planning capacity, e-tendering, and computerization of the RHD,” said M. Teresa Kho, Country Director for ADB’s Bangladesh Resident Mission. “In addition to other reforms as per an action plan, a training center for the RHD engineers will also be developed.”

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region.