US$720Mln of ODA Disbursed in Six Months

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the first six months of 2006, official development assistant (ODA) disbursement is estimated to be US$720 million, fulfilling 41 percent of the yearly plan.

Of the figure, US$618 million was from loans; the remaining US$102 million was non-refundable capital. The disbursed capital came mainly from the country's 3 largest sponsors: the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan.

According to the ministry, in the five-year plan for 2006-2010, the disbursed ODA is expected to reach US$11 billion. In 2006 alone, the disbursed ODA is expected to be US$1.75 billion, and in 2007, about US$2 billion.

The capital will be invested in developing large-scale projects, especially basic construction ones under the management of the Ministries of Transport, Agriculture and Rural Development.