ADB delegation on 2-day visit to Hyd from tomorrow

A high-level delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB), led by its president Tadao Chino, is arriving here on Friday on a two-day visit.

Though the visit is primarily aimed at reviewing the arrangements for the bank's annual general body meeting, which is slated to be held here in May 2006, the team is expected to interact with the state government officials on various other developmental issues.

The state government has made extensive arrangements for the visit of the bank's team, which also includes Asok Saikia, executive director; Kurio Senga, director general, South Asia; Bindu Lohani, secretary of ADB; Kanazaki, senior advisor to the president and Sharmila from the department of Economic Affairs, Government of India.

Apart from visiting the site of the proposed convention centre, to be built for hosting the meet with an expected participation of around 2,500 delegates, the bank's team will also visit the Buddhist sites at the Nagarjuna Sagar project on Saturday.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy is hosting a dinner in honour of the ADB president on Friday. During the informal interactions with Tadao Chino, the chief minister is expected to seek loan assistance from ADB for several core network projects of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department and also for some irrigation projects, proposed to be taken up in the next five years.

Though the R&B and Irrigation departments have already sent their proposals for ADB loan assistance, the state government has decided not to give any formal representation to the ADB president in this regard, as any proposal for the external aid should be first sent to the Union government, sources said.