Bhubaneswar: The World Bank and the Odisha government have decided to work in cooperation in the field of finance and technology for five years. A working group would be constituted to identify the area of cooperation. A decision this effect was taken at a meeting between the World Bank country director, Junaid Kamal Ahmad, and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, here on Wednesday.
The WB country director met the chief minister and discussed about the economic cooperation between the WB and the Odisha government. Junaid appreciated the Odisha government’s achievement in reducing the poverty in the state. The steps taken by the state government to reduce Infant Mortality Rate(IMR) is quite encouraging, he said and assured that the WB’s support in the area of health, livelihood, women empowerment and infrastructure development would be further strengthened.
Naveen expressed his gratitude for the WB’s support to Odisha in sectors like infrastructure, water resources, electricity, agriculture, health, fiscal reforms, cyclone rehabilitation.
He said the state government is now working with focus on agriculture, livelihood, rural economy, infrastructure, drinking water, health, nutrition, education, and skill development . He expressed hope that the WB cooperation for the development of the state would be further strengthened in future.
Chief secretary AP Padhi, development commissioner, R.Balakrishnan, and other senior officers of various departments were present at the meeting.
