April 24, 2008
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Contacts:
In Washington: Andrew C. Kircher (202) 473 6313
akircher1@worldbank.org;
Mike Jones (202) 473 2588
Mjones2@worldbank.org
WASHINGTON, April 24, 2008 - World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick today thanked Ukraine for its decision to lift restrictions on exports of grain, calling the move an important contribution to addressing the global food crisis.
In telephone calls to President Viktor A. Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia V. Tymoshenko, Zoellick said: “This important step will make additional grain available to global markets at a critical time. Ukraine is making a significant contribution to the global effort to ease the current food crisis.”
Zoellick also noted Ukraine’s decision will provide an incentive to the country’s farmers to increase food production.
The World Bank Group President is calling on food producing countries to keep markets open. “We are urging countries not to use export bans to try and protect domestic supply. These controls encourage hoarding, drive up prices and hurt the poorest people around the world who are struggling to feed themselves.”
Background Information:
- Last marketing season (July 2006-June 2007) Ukraine exported 9.6 million tons of grain. A year earlier, this number was a record 13.2 million tons.
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News z: Poland | World Bank
April 24, 2008
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Tirana, April 24, 2008 – The World Bank (IBRD) and the Governments of Albania and Montenegro concluded today the negotiations for a new grant of Global Environment Facility (GEF) ) of US$ 4.55 million for the Lake Skadar-Shkoder Integrated Ecosystem Management Project. The main objective of this project is to help establish and strengthen institutional mechanisms for transboundary cooperation through joint efforts to improve sustainable management of Lake Skadar-Shkoder.
Through this project the World Bank/GEF aims to assist the establishment and strengthening of institutional cooperation to operationalize the Bilateral Lake Management Committee and its Secretariat. It will also promote sustainable approaches to economic development of the lake (and its natural resources) by focusing on tourism and fisheries.
The project will achieve its objectives through three main components: (i) Capacity Building for Improved Understanding and Joint Management of the Lake; (ii) Promoting Sustainable Use of the Lake; and (iii) Catalyzing Pollution Reduction Investments. Some project-financed activities will be carried out in both countries and some in each country but all activities will have lake-wide benefits.
The total cost of the World Bank/GEF Project is estimated at US$4.55 million, with US$1.99 million for Albania, and US$2.56 million for Montenegro. The Governments of Albania and Montenegro will provide respectively US$ 940,000 and US$ 8,370,000 in counterpart financing to help meet the project objectives. The project is expected to go for approval to the Board of Directors in May 2008.
Implementation will be undertaken by the Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration and Montenegrin Ministry of Tourism and Environment Protection.
For more information, visit:
http://www.worldbank.org.al
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News z: Poland | World Bank