World Bank offers infra tie-up with Plan panel

The World Bank has offered to cooperate with India's Planning Commission for building a strategic framework for public-private partnerships in infrastructure. As a part of this, the World Bank's private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is likely to extend assistance in funding social infrastructure and re-settlement of people affected due to infrastructure projects.

World Bank President Robert B Zoellick met Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today. Among other things, the discussion focused on the issue of improving India's infrastructure deficit.

"Ahluwalia asked our help in moving PPP projects and urged us to get more involved at the state government level. We offered our cooperation and support in building up the strategy," a senior World Bank official, present at the meeting, told Business Standard.

"Ahluwalia showcased the government's infrastructure plan at the meeting. There was a discussion about how a partnership between the World Bank and the Indian government could be enhanced to meet this very big challenge in infrastructure. We said we are willing to do more," the official added.

When asked in what more ways the Bank could render assistance, the official added: "We can bring good examples from various parts of the world where PPP has worked successfully."

Possible cooperation in the field of PPP in social infrastructure was also discussed. "Ahluwalia told us that there are very good examples of PPP in education in India. We said we would be happy to do more," the official said.