19 Feb 2010

Possible Marshall Islands loan from the ADB endorsed in Majuro

3:57 pm on 19 February 2010

The Asian Development Bank's largest loan to the Marshall Islands is moving through the review and approval process at ADB headquarters in Manila, following its endorsement in Majuro.

The proposed 14 million US dollar loan would help the Marshall Islands stabilise its financially troubled national power utility and help the Government improve financial management and reduce spending.

That is the view of the ADB's Marshall Islands desk officer, Kiyoshi Nakamitsu, who was in Majuro earlier this week.

He says the ADB approval process is ongoing

Mr Nakamitsu says the proposed loan is responding to needs identified by Marshall Islands leaders.

If the loan is approved it would fund a detailed government personnel audit which has been requested by the Government.

A separate project proposal focusing on poverty reduction that includes funding for a planned, but much delayed Marshall Islands national census is now pending with a donor.

Mr Nakamitsu says they need statistics to track poverty alleviation activity.