Going Forward

The World Bank's Country Assistance Strategy for Belarus of December 2007 envisaged financial assistance to improve people's livelihoods through investments in social and public infrastructure, as well as the support for global public goods such as investments in emission reductions. The Bank maintains a limited and selective presence in lending with about US$100 million a year in long-term loans over the next four years.

In an early 2009 a US$ 125 million loan is planned to finance the conversion of heat-only-boilers to combined heat and power plants across the country, thus improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

The Bank continues as a leading external source of economic and social analysis and a facilitator in discussing policy choices within the country. The Bank focuses its analytical work on needed structural reforms and on those issues most critical to reducing the risks to the population posed by transition and external shocks. The new Country Economic Memorandum (under preparation) considers reforms needed to boost productivity, competitiveness, and export diversification.
Contact Information: website:http://www.worIdbank.org.by

Questions for discussion:

1. What are the aims of the Belarus Post-Chernobyl Recovery Project?

2. What are the three project components?

3. What is the program "Chistaya Voda" aimed at?

4. What are the three components of this program?

5. When did Belarus become a member of the World Bank?

6. What are the results of the recently completed Social Infrastructure Retrofitting Project?

7. What is the aim of the Water Supply and Sanitation Project?

8. What two projects are currently under implementation?

9. What kind of additional assistance does the World Bank Group provide to the Government of Belarus?

10. What was the World Bank's Country Assistance Strategy for Belarus of December 2007?

11. What is a US$125 million loan planned to finance in an early 2009?

12. What does the Bank focus its analytical work on?

13. What does the new Country Economic Memorandum consider?