IDB’s Senior VP in Guyana to review bank’s portfolio
…Finance Minister says review triggered by changing dynamics
The Senior Vice President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Julie Katzman, is currently in Guyana to review the IDB portfolio, with the government, and to look at areas for continued collaboration.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan spoke to the Department of Public Information (DPI) and related that the call may be a response to a speech made at the IDB, in his call for “out of the box thinking.”
Finance Minister Winston Jordan presents to Senior Vice President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Julie Katzman an artist’s impression of the walk-over at Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara
The Finance Minister deems the world to be “a dynamic place” where agencies such as banks and multilateral organisations frequently have to respond to the changing dynamics in their respective countries. At the local level, he recognised that the dynamics in Guyana have shifted with the change in Government (after 23 years), thus resulting in a shift in the area of priority and focus.
The visiting team emphasised on several issues and concerns, while identifying and proposing practicable solutions. The IBD representative has already visited several IDB funded projects and met with various Government representatives.
Meanwhile, IDB’s Vice President, Katzman disclosed that the consultations dealt with current portfolio; the emerging oil and gas sector, more particularly how Guyana can benefit in this regard while taking into consideration means to accelerate the execution of loans in the portfolio. The DPI also heard that the organisation’s Head of Infrastructure met with local infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, to discuss future projects.
