The World Bank is optimistic about a strategic partnership for development of Odisha and it is waiting for a formal proposal for Development Policy Financing from the Union Government.
World Bank Country Director Junaid Kamal Ahmad has informed the State Government in this regard.
With the World Bank group agreeing to join hands with Odisha Government under Country Partnership Framework (CPF), development expected to happen in mores areas, said an official.
World Bank Group consists of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Agency (IDA). Ahmad has said that recent meeting to review on Odisha Rapid State Diagnostic (ORSD) has come out with fruitful deliberations. While supporting other sectors, the World Bank has also suggested supporting ‘tertiary healthcare support in Odisha’. The World Bank Group’s CPF for India has set the strategic focus for the WBG’s engagement with the country for the period 2018-2022, to support its aspirations as a middle-income economy.
The World Bank is attaching importance for development of Odisha as it is participating in higher education, water resources and several other projects. Earlier, the International Bank was involved in the health care sector.The State Government would soon take up the issue with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) soon. After availing a Development Policy Financing, the World Bank Group would move forward in this regard, said sources.