Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 3 / Trend, A. Akhundov /
The World Bank (WB) plans to start consultations on the development of a new strategy for operations in Azerbaijan in November-December 2013, head of WB's Baku office Larisa Leshchenko told Trend on Thursday.
According to her, the document will be widely discussed with the government and the public of the country. The WB intends to finalize preparing the strategy during one year and submit the draft document for consideration of the WB Board of Directors in October 2014.
The new strategy will cover current and new spheres.
The WB is ready to allocate funds for the new project "Azerbaijan Rural Investment" (AzRIP- 3) within the strategy. The second project AzRIP- 2 came into force in late 2012.
Moreover, the bank stresses the great demand for financing melioration and irrigation and expresses readiness to work in this sphere.
The development of alternative energy sources, reforming of higher education with an emphasis on vocational education, health care financing system may be new directions.
The bank has financed more than 50 projects worth more than $3 billion after Azerbaijan joined the World Bank in 1992.