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World Bank allocates $150 million for expansion of water supply project in Azerbaijan

Business Materials 16 July 2014 10:26 (UTC +04:00)
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved Additional Financing for the Second National Water Supply and Sanitation Project (NWSSP 2) in Azerbaijan, the website of the bank reported.
World Bank allocates $150 million for expansion of water supply project in Azerbaijan

Baku, Azerbaijan, July 16
By Emin Aliyev - Trend:

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved Additional Financing for the Second National Water Supply and Sanitation Project (NWSSP 2) in Azerbaijan, the website of the bank reported.

The report said that the additional financing in the amount of $150 million will be spent to improve the quality and reliability of the water supply and to expand water supply and sanitation services in selected regional centers in Azerbaijan.

The share of the Azerbaijani government will be $ 83 million in this project. The duration of the project will be extended until December 31, 2017 within additional funding.

"This Additional Financing will complement the comprehensive Water Program implemented by the Government of Azerbaijan to improve water supply services in regions of Azerbaijan," World Bank Director for South Caucasus Henry Kerali said.

"The project primarily targets the population of secondary towns and suburban villages, which are mostly rural and more vulnerable. The provision of basic public infrastructure services, such as reliable piped water supply and sanitation, would have a significant impact on the livelihoods of the rural population, and contribute to World Bank Group's twin goals to reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity," he added.

The Second National Water Supply and Sanitation Project has been under implementation since 2008, and has already helped improve the water supply and sanitation networks in three regional centers, with reliable piped water supply and sanitation services provided to more than 120,000 beneficiaries.

The additional loan will finance the scale-up of activities and expansion of coverage in Siyazan, Shabran, Aghsu, Ismayilli, Lerik, Yardimli, Masalli, and Jalilabad rregions, according to World Bank Senior Infrastructure Specialist and project team leader Hadji Huseynov.

When the project is completed in three years, 300,000 Azerbaijanis will have access to world class water and sanitation services," he said.

Last week, the WB Board of Directors approved a loan in the amount of $100 million and $ 50 million, which are allocated by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), for the implementation of the Judicial Services and Smart Infrastructure Project (JSSIP), and "Azerbaijan Rural Investment" (AzRIP) projects, respectively.

The current World Bank investment portfolio in Azerbaijan includes 17 projects. Since joining the World Bank in 1992, commitments to the country have totaled over US$3 billion for 54 projects.

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