Azerbaijan, Baku, September 23 / Trend I. Khalilova /
The Azerbaijani government and the World Bank decided to focus on the use of quotas worth $ 48.9 million SDR ($ 73 million ) of the International Development Association (IDA is included in the WB group), provided to the country for 2011 fiscal year (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011).
The WB irrigation project head in Azerbaijan Akif Mustafayev said that $ 80 million will be allocated by the WB to realize a new irrigation project. Over $ 70 million is planned to be provided from IDA concessional financing and $ 10 million - through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
It is expected that the rest part of the project worth $ 150 million will be financed by state funds.
"At present, consultations are being conducted with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development, the Cabinet of Ministers and other relevant organizations, Mustafayev said. The assessment document will be fully prepared soon after the share of state participation in the project is specified.
The project will be implemented in March 2011. It will last for six years
"The project will cover repair work on the territory of 100,000 hectares, Mustafayev said. The project will cover about 33 districts of Azerbaijan. It is planned to repair irrigation networks in 22 districts. The trainings will be conducted in 11 districts. The offices will be built for water users associations. The agricultural technique will be bought.
The budget of the previous irrigation project, approved in 2003 and ended in 2010, amounted to $ 43 million. Over $ 39 million was allocated through the WB loan. The share of the Azerbaijani government hits $ 4 million.