ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Representatives of the World Bank and the Croatian government completed a Joint Portfolio Review (JPR) of the Bank-supported projects in Croatia on Monday.
ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Representatives of the World Bank and the
Croatian government completed a Joint Portfolio Review (JPR) of the
Bank-supported projects in Croatia on Monday. #L#
Since Croatia's admission to the World Bank in 1993, the Bank has
provided funds for 21 projects totalling US$1.065 billion, with
disbursements of US$682 million, reads a joint statement.
This is the second annual JPR of the Croatian government and the
World Bank which jointly examines comprehensively the activities
in Croatia being supported by World Bank assistance.
The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic,
and the World Bank Director for Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania,
Andrew Vorkink, with participation of Deputy Prime Ministers
Slavko Linic, Ante Simonic and Zeljka Antunovic, line ministers and
members of the standing committees for economy, internal and
foreign affairs, and social and human rights. Attending the meeting
was also Johannes F. Linn, Vice President of the Europe and Central
Asia Region, who is on a visit to Croatia, and Indira Konjhodzic,
Country Manager Croatia.
"Croatia has become one of a select minority of countries where 100%
of the portfolio financed by the Bank is satisfactory for all
projects... This year's review shows that Croatia has taken
important steps to improve portfolio performance," said Vorkink.
A project on providing support services to farmers has been rated as
highly satisfactory, Vorkink said. "We are also pleased to learn of
the Government's decision to start preparations on Public
Administration Reform and that the Government has adopted its
strategy on reform to the judiciary. The Bank strongly supports the
Government in its continuation of its reform agenda and is prepared
to provide substantial assistance in this regard," Vorkink said.
Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic conveyed the government's
satisfaction with the Bank's continued support and different
activities in Croatia, including its technical assistance (grants)
and advisory and analytical work.
Action taken since the last review includes the establishment of a
Permanent Working Group for monitoring the implementation of the
overall foreign assistance to Croatia to co-ordinate policy
matters across different parts of government related to the
economic and strategic impact of foreign assistance and develop
effective donor co-ordination mechanisms. The Group is chaired by
Deputy Prime Minister Linic, the statement read.
Since the last JPR, four new operations have been approved,
including three loans (Structural Adjustment Loan, Pension System
Investment, Real Property Registration and Cadastre) and a GEF-
financed Karst Ecosystems Conservation Grant. Furthermore, five
project preparations grants have been signed, the statement read.
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