Archiv der Kategorie: Staaten

Russland

KfW baut Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten für Russland aus

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Die KfW Entwicklungsbank baut die Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen in Russland weiter aus. Die Kredite sind auch für deutsche mittelständische Unternehmen interessant, die entweder in Russland selbst tätig sind oder Lieferbeziehungen zu russischen KMU Unternehmen unterhalten.

Heute hat die KfW Entwicklungsbank im Rahmen des Förderprogramms für KMU in der russischen Föderation (Gesamtsumme 50 Mio. EUR) drei weitere Kreditverträge mit russischen Banken abgeschlossen. Während des Deutsch-Russischen Mittelstandsforums wurden ein Vertrag in Höhe von 6 Mio. EUR mit der Center Invest Bank, Rostov am Don, ein Vertrag in Höhe von 5 Mio. EUR mit der Sibakadem-Bank, Novosibirsk, sowie ein Vertrag mit der Uraltransbank, Ekaterinburg, in Höhe von EUR 5 Mio. abgeschlossen.

„Dieses im Auftrag der Bundesregierung aufgelegte Programm in Höhe von 50 Mio. EUR soll den Zugang kleiner und mittelständischer Unternehmen (KMU) zu Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten über internationale und russische Geschäftsbanken verbessern. Die Förderung und der Aufbau des russischen Mittelstands und die Restrukturierung des russischen Bankensektors haben große Bedeutung für die erfolgreiche Transformation des Landes zur Marktwirtschaft,“ betonte Ingrid Matthäus-Maier, Mitglied des Vorstands der KfW Bankengruppe, anlässlich der Vertragsunterzeichnung in Moskau. Für das Jahr 2005 ist der Abschluss mit weiteren KMU-Banken geplant“, sagte Ingrid Matthäus-Maier.

Den russischen KMU-Banken steht damit eine langfristige Refinanzierungslinie mit einer Laufzeit von jeweils sieben Jahren zur Verfügung. Insgesamt hat die KfW Entwicklungsbank in diesem Jahr in Russland fünf Kreditverträge mit Banken in verschiedenen Regionen – bis nach Sibirien – abgeschlossen. In 2004 wurden bereits mit der KMB-Bank ein Vertrag in Höhe von USD 12,5 Mio. sowie mit der NBD-Bank ein Kreditvertrag in Höhe von USD 3,3 Mio. abgeschlossen.

Rumänien

EIB stellt 16 Mio. EUR für Infrastrukturvorhaben in Rumänien bereit

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Die Europäische Investitionsbank (EIB) stellt der zur Société Générale S.A.-Gruppe gehörenden Banca Româna Pentru Dezvoltare (BRD) ein Globaldarlehen von 16 Mio EUR zur Finanzierung kleiner und mittlerer öffentlicher Infrastrukturvorhaben in Rumänien zur Verfügung.

Bei der Finanzierung in Rumänien handelt es sich bereits um das vierte Globaldarlehen der EIB an das Bankhaus BRD. Damit hat die EIB diesem Finanzinstitut jetzt insgesamt 100 Mio EUR zur Verfügung gestellt. Das zuletzt gewährte Darlehen wird der Kofinanzierung kleiner und mittlerer Vorhaben in den Bereichen Umweltschutz, Energie und Energieeinsparung sowie Infrastruktur dienen.

Die BRD ist eine der führenden Banken für die Finanzierung von kommunalen Investitionsvorhaben. Sie möchte dieses Globaldarlehen nutzen, um ihre Position durch eine Ausweitung ihrer Finanzierungstätigkeit zugunsten von Kommunen und staatlichen Dienstleistungsunternehmen zu festigen.

Der BRD wird im Rahmen des heute unterzeichneten Globaldarlehens auch die Fazilität für kommunale Finanzierungen zugute kommen ? eine besondere Fazilität, die von der Europäischen Kommission im Rahmen ihres PHARE-Programms unterstützt wird. Ziel dieser Fazilität ist es, die Finanzinstitute bei ihren Bemühungen um eine Vergabe langfristiger Darlehen für die Finanzierung kleiner Infrastrukturvorhaben von Kommunen bzw. öffentlichen oder privaten Unternehmen zu unterstützen. Sie wird für die BRD Anreize für die Weiterleitung von EIB-Mitteln an Kommunen schaffen.

Seit 1990 hat die EIB in Rumänien Darlehen in Höhe von etwa 3,3 Mrd EUR zur Finanzierung von Projekten bereitgestellt, die der Förderung der Integration des Landes in die EU dienen und dazu beitragen, dass Rumänien die EU-Beitrittskriterien erfüllt und der Union somit wie geplant im Jahr 2007 beitreten kann. Bisher hat die Bank sieben Globaldarlehen im Gesamtbetrag von 182 Mio EUR an sechs Partnerinstitute in Rumänien vergeben.

Seit 1990 hat die EIB für Projekte in den neuen Mitgliedstaaten Mittel- und Osteuropas und in den Beitrittsländern (Rumänien und Bulgarien) mehr als 27 Mrd EUR bereitgestellt. Sie ist die wichtigste ausländische Finanzierungsquelle für Vorhaben in dieser Region.

Armenien

Armenia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy

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NOVEMBER 18, 2004 – The World Bank today approved a Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) for Armenia worth US$ 20 million. The first of a three-year program by the World Bank, this project is designed around four themes and targeted to support the implementation of the government’s PRSP program.

The International Development Association (IDA) Credit will assist the government in sharpening competition and entrenching property rights, mitigating social and environmental risks, consolidating macroeconomic discipline and modernizing the rural economy.

„The project will assist the government to implement the ambitious Poverty Reform Strategy over the coming years,“ said Saumya Mitra, World Bank Task Manager and head of the team designing the project. „It will also support the government’s drive to improve the quality in the delivery of essential public services.“

The PRSC is based upon and supports the policy and institutional reforms reflected in the Government’s PRSP document, and builds on achievements of the previous Bank supported Structural Adjustment operations provided by the World Bank from 1994 until 2003 (5 SACs and a Rehabilitation Credit).

The Poverty Reduction Support Credit is designed around the following four themes:

  • Consolidating macroeconomic discipline and strengthening governance. The first theme recognizes that a continuation of Armenia’s exemplary macroeconomic performance over the past five years is necessary to underpin high rates of growth. Moreover, governance reforms that cut across budget, fiduciary, revenue raising, and public administration institutions and sectors will improve the climate for private sector investment, remove opportunities for corruption, and enhance revenue mobilization.
  • The second theme of sharpening competition and entrenching property rights – cutting across trade, utilities regulation, property and contract law, banking and capital markets, and rural sectors – addresses the key weaknesses in the competition environment. Armenia needs to reduce transaction costs and sharpen its competitive edge by complementing its highly liberal regime in trade in goods with liberalization in key services and by consolidating its impressive reforms in state owned utilities. In addition, entrenching property rights through the provision of a legal framework for secured transactions, by instilling confidence in the banking sectors and developing insurance markets is essential to secure increasing rates of private investment.
  • Social and environmental risks – the third theme – that cuts across education, health, social risk management and environmental protection sectors – are designed to be mitigated by a program of reforms directed at raising both the share of public spending devoted to these sectors and the quality of spending through changes in their composition and institutional reforms. The resulting strengthening of human capital and reduced risks for sustainable natural resource use will greatly assist in the reduction of poverty.
  • Interventions in the rural economy – the final theme – that cuts across the agriculture, non-farm incomes, and infrastructure sectors – are intended to modernize a lagging sector of the economy and one in which the impact of growth on poverty needs to be further strengthened. Greater predictability and sustainability in public services in rural Armenia is expected to strongly benefit the fight against poverty.

The project will also be supported by a EURO 4.3 million co-financing Grant from the Netherlands Government, which together with PRSC I proceeds will support the State budget.

The Credit will be made to Armenia on standard IDA terms, including 40 years maturity and a 10-year grace period.

Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, the commitments to
Armenia total approximately US$ 841 million for 37 operations.

Rumänien

World Bank approved two loans for Romania

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The World Bank Board of Directors approved yesterday two loans for Romania amounting to US$ 275 million for the Transport Restructuring and Modernizing of Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems (MAKIS) Projects.

The Transport Restructuring Project, in the amount of US$ 225 million, will be implemented over the next 5 years. It has two major components: improvement of roads infrastructure and the railway system. Under the roads component, much needed bypass roads will be constructed in at least 5 big cities in Romania — Brasov, Bacau, Targu Mures, Reghin and Medias. These bypass roads will help divert traffic from inner city, so that the transport speed of both passengers and freight will increase considerably while road safety will be ensured. One other positive advantage for the public will be the decrease in pollution levels within cities, as well as protection of cultural heritage buildings at present endangered by heavy traffic.

Under the railway component passenger and freight transport will be modernized through the implementation of an integrated computerized system. This will ensure the planning of the traffic and more speedy, safe and economical service. In addition, the project will finance acquisition of modern machinery to be used for the maintenance of the railway infrastructure. All this is expected to result in increased efficiency in railway traffic moving Romania to the highest EU standards in railway services.

The MAKIS (Modernizing Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems) Project, in the amount of US$ 50 million, will also be implemented over the next 5 years. The objective and intended outcome of this project is to ensure that farmers increase their incomes and the rural areas would achieve sustainable development. To achieve this, MAKIS is to implement some of the EU commitments on-the-ground. For example, MAKIS would help Romanian farmers modernize their production activities and assistance will be provided for all stages of the agricultural process from the use of fertilizers and increasing productivity. In addition, measures will be taken to ensure the quality of the agricultural food products and raising quality of food processing to promote „high quality“ agricultural exports to EU market. Work will be done extensively in training and supporting the National Authority for Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety. Last but not least, MAKIS will assist five strategic national Romanian research institutions. These will receive an infusion of research and advisory technical assistance to help enhance their relevance to the changed EU-related conditions and to help Romania meet the competitive challenges of a single market economy from 2007.

The World Bank has been a committed partner in Romania’s development process since 1990, with loans totaling over US$4.2 billion. The 2004-2005 lending program is likely to be the highest amounting to almost US$ 850 million.

Kasachstan

World Bank President Wolfensohn in Kazakhstan

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15. November 2004: World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn arrived today in Almaty to discuss the forging of a new partnership between Kazakhstan and the World Bank. During today’s meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Mr. Wolfensohn outlined four areas – oil revenue management, health, education, and infrastructure – where Kazakhstan and the World Bank can work effectively together.

„The World Bank is ready to partner with Kazakhstan in its journey to a more competitive and diversified economy to the betterment of its people. Kazakhstan has been blessed with an endowment of oil resources that has driven the economy in recent years. However, as history has shown many times, oil is a blessing only if it is used wisely for the benefit of all a country’s citizens ,“ said Mr. Wolfensohn.

Earlier today, in his keynote address to the Congress of Financiers of Kazakhstan, Mr. Wolfensohn hailed the country’s economic achievements and the government’s commitment to reform. To achieve sustainable competitiveness, Wolfensohn urged, more investments are needed in infrastructure, education, and health.

„In his address to the nation in March 2004, President Nazarbayev laid out a comprehensive agenda for the country’s development, which identified the right goals and focused appropriately on achieving a diversified and competitive economy. The challenge now is how to implement this vision. The World Bank is ready to help,“ – said Mr. Wolfensohn.

Mr. Wolfensohn continued saying that: „balanced development – development that creates jobs and opportunities for everyone – is the goal that we all seek. Investments are needed in people, infrastructure and institutions, both public and private. We must also look at the issues of youth and how we can provide them hope and opportunities in years ahead.“

One of the main goals of the World Bank President’s visit to Kazakhstan is to discuss the new partnership between the country and the World Bank Group. The new Country Partnership Strategy offers an innovative approach to enhancing the competitiveness of the Kazakh economy and diversify away from its reliance on oil and gas. In this regard Kazakhstan is a pioneer in the development of new ways for the World Bank Group to work with Middle-Income Countries. The keystone of the new partnership is the Joint Economic Research Program (JERP), co-financed by the World Bank and the Government of Kazakhstan, which is also seen as a model for other Middle-Income Countries. The extension of the JERP for an additional 3 years will be signed in Astana on November 16, 2004.

Mr. Wolfensohn’s visit to Kazakhstan also includes a visit to the new capital Astana, where he will meet Prime-Minister Daniyal Akhmetov and selected members of the Government, and hold a lecture at the Gumyliev Eurasian University. He is accompanied by Messrs. Shigeo Katsu, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia; Dennis de Tray, World Bank Country Director for Central Asia; Khosrow Zamani, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Director for Europe and Central Asia; and Loup Brefort, Country Manager for Kazakhstan.

World Bank in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan became a member of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) in July 1992. Since then the Bank has approved about US$1.9 billion for 23 projects in Kazakhstan, including policy-based support to the reforms in the financial and pension systems, the introduction of modern budget systems, and the initial reforms to the framework for the civil service.

The current portfolio focuses on agriculture, environment, and infrastructure. The following six projects are now under implementation: 1) Road Transport Restructuring, 2) Uzen Oil Field Rehabilitation, 3) Irrigation and Drainage, 4) Electricity Rehabilitation, 5) Syr Darya Control and Northern Aral Sea, and 6) Nura River Cleanup.

The Bank’s future program in Kazakhstan is outlined in the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) that was developed together with the government, discussed with various local civil society groups and donors, and endorsed by the World Bank Board of Directors on September 2004. The CPS details areas of engagement of the World Bank in Kazakhstan in the coming years in support of the development goals of the country. Main focus of the CPS is diversification and competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s economy. It includes three agricultural projects (competitiveness, rural credit, and irrigation and drainage) and a forestry management project in the coming eighteen months.

A cornerstone of the strategy is the newly established Kazakhstan-World Bank Joint Economic Research Program (JERP). Topics currently being examined under the JERP include education and health strategies, public expenditure and procurement policies, WTO accession, poverty analysis, mitigating the environmental impact of growth, oil revenue management, and ways to foster innovation and technology.

For more information about World Bank in Kazakhstan please visit this web site.

Moldawien

Moldova’s Poverty Reduction Strategy

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The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today discussed Moldova’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (known in Moldova as the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper – EGPRSP) and the Joint IDA -IMF Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) on Moldova’s EGPRSP. Moldova’s EGPRSP was adopted by the Government in May 2004 and submitted to the World Bank and IMF in June 2004.

The Bank’s Board supported the three-pillar EGPRSP that focuses on
(i) sustaining economic growth through maintaining macroeconomic stability, improving the business environment, and accelerating structural reforms;
(ii) strengthening human development through improving education and health; and
(iii) strengthening social protection and inclusion.

The Board recognized that the proposed strategy, underpinned by a sound diagnostic of the poverty situation and transition experience, is comprehensive and can, over time, foster growth and reduce poverty.

„Moldova’s EGPRSP was developed through an extensive participatory process that involved stakeholders and civil society on all levels,“ said Paul Bermingham, the World Bank’s Country Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. „The World Bank stands ready to support the Government in strengthening the EGPRSP during its implementation so that it can become an effective and credible policy framework for poverty reduction. We also look forward to our Board’s discussion of the next World Bank Country Assistance Strategy for Moldova in December 2004, which would outline the necessary support in selected areas to contribute to the effective implementation of the EGPRSP,“ he added.

The Executive Directors noted with concern several critical areas where current policies do not match those articulated in the EGPRSP. These include slow progress in implementing structural reforms, increased government interventions in economic activity, and the unsustainable medium-term fiscal framework. Directors noted that these actions limit the scope for IDA concessional assistance. They urged the authorities to rectify these policy actions, especially in the areas of state monopolies, licensing and regulation, land consolidation and agriculture subsidies, pension reform, and privatization. They underscored the need for the authorities to demonstrate a good track record of implementation and encouraged Moldovan authorities to continue to engage stakeholders and civil society in the EGPRSP implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

IDA – International Development Association is the Bank’s concessional lending
arm that provides key support for the Bank’s poverty reduction mission. Its
assistance is focused on the poorest countries– with a per person income of
less than $885–to which it provides interest-free loans and grants.
IMF – International Monetary Fund

Institutionen, Rumänien

Eröffnung eines Deutschen Kulturzentrums in Hermannstadt/Sibiu

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Am Samstag, den 02.10., wird in Hermannstadt/Rumänien ein Deutsches Kulturzentrum eröffnet. Das Kulturzentrum wird als neues Modell der öffentlich-privaten Partnerschaft in der Auswärtigen Kulturpolitik gemeinsam von einem rumänischen Kulturverein, dem Auswärtigen Amt, der Robert Bosch Stiftung und dem Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) getragen.

Es hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, an die in Hermannstadt bestehende lebendige deutsche Tradition anzuknüpfen und vor allem der jüngeren Generation Zugang zu einem modernen und europäischen Deutschland zu bieten. Neben Veranstaltungen zu kulturellen und zivilgesellschaftlichen Themen bietet das Kulturzentrum Sprachkurse sowie eine Bibliothek für zeitgenössische deutsche Literatur an.

Hermannstadt ist geprägt durch das kulturelle Erbe der Siebenbürger Sachsen. Nach der Übersiedlung eines großen Teils der Siebenbürger Sachsen wird dieses Erbe auch von der rumänischen Bevölkerung fortgeführt. So werden z.B. die deutschsprachigen Schulen in Hermannstadt mittlerweile zu 90 Prozent von Schülern besucht, deren Muttersprache rumänisch ist. Das Deutsche Kulturzentrum wird auf dieser Nähe zur deutschen Kultur und Sprache aufbauen.

Das Deutsche Kulturzentrum Hermannstadt ist zugleich ein wegweisendes Modell der öffentlich-privaten Partnerschaft in der Auswärtigen Kultur- und Bildungspolitik: Es wird von einem örtlichen Kulturverein getragen, mit Projektmitteln des Auswärtigen Amts finanziert und von einer von der Robert Bosch Stiftung und dem Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) entsandten deutschen Kulturmanagerin geleitet. Weitere Zentren dieser Art existieren in Klausenburg/Cluj und Temeswar/Timisoara in Rumänien sowie an acht weiteren Orten in Mittel- und Osteuropa.