In response to an invitation extended by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Mr. Abdelaziz KHELEF, Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) arrived on 26 October 2008, at Dar Es Salaam, capital of the United Republic of Tanzania a regional tour that will take him to the Kingdoms of Lesotho, and Swaziland during the period from 26 October to 7 November 2008. . . . .
During his visit to the United Republic of Tanzania, the Director General will be received by H.E. the President of the Republic and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and other high-ranking officials.
The visit will focus on the mutual cooperation between Tanzania and BADEA, with the objective of exploring the various means of promoting and developing it. The Director General will avail himself of the opportunity to visit some projects financed by BADEA in the Republic of Tanzania.
The programme of the visit also includes signing a loan agreement for financing the construction of two secondary schools in Zanzibar at 6 millions dollars. The project aims at contributing to the human resource development in Zanzibar through expansion of the infrastructure for secondary education and provision of equipment and teaching materials for two secondary schools.
It is worth-mentioning that, by the end of October 2008, BADEAs assistance to the United Republic of Tanzania reached US $ 128.17 million for participating in financing 28 development projects.
BADEAs financing operations in Sub-Sahara African countries have since 1975 will reach US $ 3544,127 million by end of October 2008; These allocations have been earmarked to finance 450 development projects, 438 technical assistance operations, 30 loans for the private sector, including 14 special operations (in the context of Emergency Aid Programme benefiting several African countries effected by drought and desertification), in addition to 59 loans extended through the Special Arab Assistance Fund for Africa (SAAFA).
BADEAs operations cover all the 43 eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in addition to a number of regional organizations. The operations cover infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, rural water, electricity, rural roads, animal and fish production, energy, industry, social and the banking sector over and above technical assistance operations.
The projects selected by BADEA are those, which are directed towards improving the living conditions of the people and easing the pressure on them and reducing poverty, particularly those projects related to rural development and environment such as rural water supply and sewerage, or those aiming at reducing negative impact of drought and desertification. This is obviously in line with the Millennium Development objectives aiming at reducing poverty in developing countries.