P.M. meets with IDB representatives

The Prime Minister and Cabinet met with a high level programming mission for the Inter-American Development Bank last week to look at areas in which the bank can assist with programs the government would like to implement. News Five spoke with Prime Minister Said Musa about the areas discussed during the meeting and the need for long range planning.

Said Musa, Prime Minister

“So we discussed things like the ongoing program for the Southern Highway, for which the IDB is involved, the tourism project, improvement to the Caracol Road. We discussed the agricultural imputs, youth programs. I.D.B. is also involved in the health sector reform which is a major issue. And we’ve been looking at new areas such as the Center for Employment Training, vocational training, cultural industries, new areas in which we are trying to get the bank involved and they were very responsive.”

Q. “There was no firm commitment at this point it was just to let them know the projects that you are interested in?”

Said Musa

“No, in fact, there were several commitments given about areas they are very receptive to, which we now have to negotiate and work out the details of. Of the loan programs, some of them grants. But you know you have to plan way ahead of time. An IDB loan, like a World Bank Loan has a lead time of almost a year. We have to be talking now about what we are going to do in the year 2000, 2001.”

The IDB’s seventeen member mission was led by Miguel Martinez, Manager of the Bank’s Regional Operations Department.