OREANDA-NEWS  On 15 September was announced, that the World Bank plans to increase financing of its projects in Belarus to USD 185 million in 2009, WB Country Director for Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova Martin Raiser said.

“We have increased the energy efficiency project financing to USD 125 million from USD 100 million, while the water supply and treatment project is estimated at USD 60 million. The World Bank is always open to new projects,” Raiser said.

The WB and the Belarusian government also discuss transport projects.

Raiser went on to say that Belarus had not applied for additional financing of large-scale projects in economy and the social sector.

The country strategy for Belarus may be revised in late 2009 after the WB analyzes preliminary results of the current strategy, he said.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on December 4 discussed the new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Belarus for the period of 2008-2011.

The WB expects to provide about USD 100 million a year in long-term loans to support the country in addressing global environment and energy challenges, enhancing the competitiveness of its economy to assure rising incomes, and protecting the welfare of the most vulnerable over the next four years.