Afghanistan - Livestock Development Project : Credit 0375 - Credit Agreement - Conformed

CONFORMED COPY CREDIT NUMBER 375 AF Development Credit Agreement (Livestock Development Project) BETWEEN KINGDOM OF AFGHANISTAN AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION DATED May 2, 1973 CONFORMED COPY CREDIT NUMBER 375 AF Development Credit Agreement (Livestock Development Project) BETWEEN KINGDOM OF AFGHANISTAN AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION DATED May 2, 1973 DEVELOPMENT CREDIT AGREEMENT AGREEMENT, dated May 2, 1973, between KINGDOM OF AFGHANISTAN (hereinafter called the Borrower) and INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (hereinafter called the Association). WHEREAS (A) The Borrower has requested the Association to assist in the financing of the Project described in Schedule 2 to this Agreement by extending the Credit as hereinafter provided; and (B) The Project will partly be carried out by the Herat Livestock Development Company (hereinafter called HLDC), a joint-stock company duly established under the laws of the Borrower, and partly by the Agricultural Development Bank of Afghanistan (hereinafter called AGBANK), a joint-stock company duly established under the laws of the Borrower, with the Borrower's assistance and, as part of such assistance, the Borrower will make available to HLDC and AGBANK the proceeds of the Credit as hereinafter provided; WHEREAS the Association is willing to make the Credit available upon the terms and conditions set forth hereinafter and in a project agreement of even date herewith among the Association, HLDC and AGBANK; NOW THEREFORE the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I General Conditions; Definitions Section 1.01. The parties to this Agreement accept all the provisions of the General Conditions Applicable to Development Credit Agreements of the Association, dated January 31, 1969, with the same force and effect as if they were fully set forth herein, subject, however, to the following modifications thereof (said General Conditions Applicable to Development Credit Agreements of the Association, as so modified, being hereinafter called the General Conditions): (a) The following subparagraph is added to Section 2.01: "13. The term "Project Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the Development Credit Agreement." 4 (b) Section 5.01 is deleted; (c) Section 6.02(h) is deleted and Section 6.02(i) becomes 6.02(h); (d) Section 6.06 is amended by inserting the words ", the Project Agreement" after the words "the Development Credit Agreement;" and (e) Section 8.02 is amended by inserting the words "or under the Project Agreement" after the words "the Development Credit Agreement." Section 1.02. Wherever used in this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the several terms defined in the General Conditions have the respective meanings therein set forth and the following additional terms have the following meanings: (a) "Project Agreement" means the agreement among the Association, HLDC and AGBANK of even date herewith, as the same may be amended from time to time, and such term includes all schedules to the Project Agreement; (b) "First Subsidiary Loan Agreement" means the agreement to be entered into among the Borrower, HLDC and AGBANK pursuant to Section 3.01(b) of this Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, and such term includes all schedules to the First Subsidiary Loan Agreement; (c) "Second Subsidiary Loan Agreement" means the agreement to be entered into between HLDC and AGBANK pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Project Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time and such term includes all schedules to the Second Subsidiary Loan Agreement; (d) "Subsidiary Loan Agreements" means the First Subsidiary Loan Agreement and the Second Subsidiary Loan Agreement; (e) "Convention" means Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), Done at Geneva, on 15th January, 1959, as amended to the date of this Agreement; (f) "Charter" means Charter of the AGBANK as approved by the Royal Afghan Government, Cabinet Resolution No. 2911 of January 19, 1970, (Afghan Calendar: Jaddi 29, 1348) confirmed by Royal Decree No. 1032/3768 of January 21, 1970, (Afghan Calendar: Dalw 1, 1348) approved by the AGBANK's Extraordinary General Assembly of Shareholders on February 1, 1970 (Dalw 12, 5 1348) and published in the Official Gazette No. 150 of February 11, 1970 (Dalw 22, 1348) and as The same may be amended from time to time; (g) "Articles of Incorporation" means the Articles of Incorporation of the Herat Livestock Development Company, as of the date of this Agreement; (h) "MIS" means the Minor Irrigation Section of The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Borrower; (i) "ERIC" means the Experimental Range Improvement Center to be established in accordance with Section 2.09 of the Project Agreement; (j) "TSU" means the Technical Services Unit to be established in accordance with Section 2.10 of the Project Agreement; (k) "Subsidiary Loan" means the amount to be relent to AGBANK out of the proceeds of the Credit in accordance with Section 3.01(c)(i) of this Agreement; (1) "Subsidiary Fund" means the amount to be made available to AGBANK out of the proceeds of the Credit in accordance with Section 3.01(c)(ii) of this Agreement; and (m) "Afghani" and the letters "Af" mean the currency of the Borrower. ARTICLE II The Credit Section 2.01. The Association agrees to lend to the Borrower, on the terms and conditions in the Development Credit Agreement set forth or referred to, an amount in various currencies equivalent to nine million dollars ($9,000,000). Section 2.02. The amount of the Credit may be withdrawn from the Ciedit Account in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 1 to this Agreement, as such Schedule shall be amended from time to time, for expenditures made (or, if the Association shall so agree, to be made) in respect of the reasonable cost of goods and services required for the Project and to be financed under the Development Credit Agreement; provided, however, that, except as the Association shall otherwise agree, no withdrawal shall be made on account of expenditures in the territories of any country which is not a member of the Bank (other than Switzerland) or for goods produced in, or services supplied from, such territories. 6 Section 2.03. Except as the Association shall otherwise agree, the goods and services required for the Project and to be financed out of the proceeds of the Credit shall be procured pursuant to the provisions set forth or referred to in Section 2.04 of the Project Agreement. Section 2.04. The Closing Date shall be September 30, 1978 or such other date as shall be agreed between the Borrower and the Association. Section 2.05. The Borrower shall pay to the Association a service charge at the rate of three-fourths of one per cent (3/4 of 1%) per annum on the principal amount of the Credit withdrawn and outstanding from time to time. Section 2.06. Service charges shall be payable semi-annually on June 15 and De_cember 15 in each year. Section 2.07. The Borrower shall repay the principal amount of the Credit in semi-annual installments payable on each June 15 and December 15 commencing June 15, 1983 and ending December 15, 2022, each installment to and including the installment payable on December 15, 1992 to be one-half of one per cent (1/2 of 1%) of such principal amount, and each installment thereafter to be one and one-half per cent (1-1/2%) of such principal amount. Section 2.08. The currency of the United States of America is hereby specified for the purposes of Section 4.02 of the General Conditions. Section 2.09. The President, or the Vice-President, of AGBANK are designated as representatives of the Borrower for the purposes of taking any action required or permitted to be taken under the provisions of Section 2.02 of this Agreement and Article V of the General Conditions. ARTICLE III Execution of the Project Section 3.01. (a) Without any limitation or restriction upon any of its other obligations under the Development Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall cause HLDC and AGBANK to perform in accordance with the provisions of the Project Agreement all the obligations therein set forth, shall take and cause to be taken all action, including the provision of funds, facilities, services and other resources, necessary or appropriate to enable HLDC and AGBANK to perform such obligations, and shall not take or permit to be taken any action which would prevent or interfere with such performance. 7 (b) The Borrower shall make the proceeds of the Credit available to AGBANK under a subsidiary loan agreement to be entered into among the Borrower, HLDC and AGBANK under terms and conditions, including the terms and conditions set forth in paragraph (c) of this Section, which shall have been approved by the Association. (c) The First Subsidiary Loan Agreement shall provide inter alia that: (i) the Borrower shall relend to AGBANK an amount equivalent to $5,600,000 for a term of 15 years, including 5 years of grace, and at an interest rate of 4-1/2% per annum on amounts withdrawn and outstanding from time to time; (ii) the Borrower shall make available to AGBANK an amount equivalent to $3,400,000, to be made available to HLDC; (iii) AGBANK shall on-lend an amount equivalent to $1,600,000 out of the Subsidiary Loan for purposes of on-farm development under Part A(i) of the Project, for a term not exceeding 7 years, including a grace period of up to 2 years, and at an interest rate of 8% on amounts withdrawn and outstanding from time to time; (iv) AGBANK shall on-lend an amount equivalent to $4,000,000 out of the Subsidiary Loan to HLDC for a term of 15 years, including 5 years of grace, and at the interest rate of 8% per annum on amounts withdrawn and outstanding from time to time, for purposes of Parts B and D(i) of the Project; (v) AGBANK shall make available to HLDC an amount equivalent to $1,700,000, out of the Subsidiary Fund as capital grant, for purposes of Parts C, D(ii) and D(iii), E, F and G of the Project; and (vi) AGBANK shall make available to HLDC an amount equivalent to $1,700,000 out of Subsidiary Fund as Government equity by subscribing to HLDC's authorized capital. Such subscriptions shall be made on the date or dates of, and out of, first disbursements by the Association of the proceeds of the Credit in respect of Part B of the Project. (d) Whenever in connection with this Section it shall be necessary to value the proceeds of the Credit in terms of Afghanis, such valuation shall be made 8 on the basis of the Da Afghanistan Bank free market rate of exchange. If, at any time, the Borrower or the Association considers that circumstances have arisen as a result of which such valuation has ceased to be possible, the parties shall consult together about what action is necessary for such valuation. (e) The Borrower shall exercise its rights under the First Subsidiary Loan Agreement in such manner as to protect the interests of the Borrower and the Association and to accomplish the purposes of the Credit, and except as the Association shall otherwise agree, the Borrower shall not assign, nor amend, abrogate or waive the First Subsidiary Loan Agreement or any provision thereof. Section 3.02. The Borrower shall take, or cause HLDC to take, all measures necessary to ensure that the sheep produced or fattened under the Project are purchased from farmers under the Project at such prices as shall encourage the production of fattened sheep, until the slaughterhouse becomes operational, and shall reimburse HLDC for any losses suffered by it as a result of the purchase or sale or disposal of such sheep. Section 3.03. The Borrower covenants that it will exercise every right and recourse available to it to ensure that HLDC can export without restrictions the products of the Project slaughterhouse, and that the exports of meat produced by the said slaughterhouse will remain exempt from any tax, charge or similar levy. Section 3.04. The Borrower shall take or cause to be taken all steps necessary to enable HLDC to convert foreign currencies earned from HLDC's exports at the Da Afghanistan Bank free market rate of exchange, except as the Association shall otherwise agree. Section 3.05. Except as the Association shall otherwise agree, the Borrower shall, within twelve months from the date of this Agreement, complete all action required of the Borrower for implementing the Convention. Section 3.06. Without any limitation or restriction upon any of its obligations under Section 3.01(a) of this Agreement, the Borrower shall: (i) during the disbursement of the Credit, provide Afs24 million in four equal annual instalments to HLDC as grant, and thereafter, shall continue to provide grants to HLDC in such amounts and at such times as shall be required to enable HLDC to operate and maintain ERIC and TSU; and (ii) shall ensure that not later than March 21, 1977, its subscription to HLDC's shares, including the amount subscribed pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(vi) shall be not less than Afs200 million. 9 Section 3.07. The Borrower shall cause HLDC to complete preparation of specifications included in Part B(i) of the Project not later than December 31, 1973. ARTICLE IV Consultation and Information Section 4.01. The Borrower and the Association shall cooperate fully to assure that the purposes of the Credit will be accomplished. To that end, the Borrower and the Association shall from time to time, at the request of either party: (a) exchange views through their representatives with regard to the performance of their respective obligations under the Development Credit Agreement, the performance by HLDC and AGBANK of their respective obligations under the Project Agreement and the Subsidiary Loan Agreements, the administration, operations and financial condition, resources and expenditures of HLDC and AGBANK and, in respect of the Project, of the departments or agencies of the Borrower responsible for carrying out any part of the Project, and other matters relating to the purposes of the Credit; and (b) furnish to the other all such information as it shall reasonably request with regard to the general status of the Credit. On the part of the Borrower, such information shall include information with respect to financial and economic conditions in the territories of the Borrower, including its balance of payments, and the external debt of the Borrower, of any of its political subdivisions and of any agency of the Borrower or of any such political subdivision. Section 4.02. (a) The Borrower shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Association all such information as the Association shall reasonably request concerning the administration, operations and financial condition of HLDC and AGBANK and, in respect of the Project, of the departments or agencies of the Borrower responsible for carrying out any part of the Project. (b) The Borrower and the Association shall promptly inform each other of any condition which interferes with, or threatens to interfere with, the accomplishment of the purposes of the Credit, the maintenance of the service thereof, the performance by either of them of its obligations under the Development Credit Agreement and the performance by HLDC and AGBANK of their obligations under the Project Agreement and the Subsidiary Loan Agreements. 10 Section 4.03. The Borrower shall afford all reasonable opportunity for accredited representatives of the Association to visit any part of the territories of the Borrower for purposes related to the Credit. ARTICLE V Taxes and Restrictions Section 5.01. The principal of, and service charges on, the Credit shall be paid without deduction for, and free from, any taxes imposed under the laws of the Borrower or laws in effect in its territories. Section 5.02. The Development Credit Agreement and the Project Agreement shall be free from any taxes on or in connection with the execution, delivery or registration thereof, imposed under the laws of the Borrower or laws in effect in its territories. Section 5.03. The payment of the principal of, and service charges on, the Credit shall be free from all restrictions, regulations, controls and moratoria of any nature imposed under the laws of the Borrower or laws in e-ffect in its territories. ARTICLE VI Remedies of the Association Section 6.01. If any event specified in Section 7.01 of the General Conditions or in Section 6.03 of this Agreement shall occur and shall continue for the period, if any, therein set forth then at any subsequent time during the continuance thereof, the Association, at its option, may by notice to the Borrower declare the principal of the Credit then outstanding to be due and payable immediately together with the service charges thereon and upon any such declaration such principal and service charges shall become due and payable immediately, anything to the contrary in the Development Credit Agreement notwithstanding. Section 6.02. For the purposes of Section 6.02 of the General Conditions, the following additional events are specified: (a) A default shall occur in the performance of any obligation on the part of HLDC or AGBANK under the Project Agreement or the Subsidiary Loan Agreements. 11 (b) HLDC or AGBANK shall have become unable to pay their debts as they mature or any action or proceedings shall have been taken by HLDC or AGBANK or by others whereby any of the property of HLDC or AGBANK ,hall or may be distributed among their creditors. (c) The Borrower or any other authority having jurisdiction shall have taken any action for the dissolution or disestablishment of HLDC or AGBANK or for the suspension of their operations. (d) The Project Agreement, or the Subsidiary Loan Agreements, or any material provision thereof shall have been amended, suspended, abrogated or waived without the prior approval of the Association. (e) The Articles of Incorporation or the Charter shall have been amended, suspended, abrogated, repealed, waived, or shall cease to be enforced, so as to materially and adversely affect the ability of HLDC and AGBANK to perform their respective obligations under the Project Agreement or the Subsidiary Loan Agreements. Section 6.03. For the purposes of Section 7.01 of the General Conditions, the following additional events are specified: (a) the event specified in paragraphs (a) or (d) of Section 6.02 of this Agreement shall occur and shall continue for a period of sixty days after notice thereof shall have been given by the Association to the Borrower, HLDC and AGBANK. (b) any event specified in paragraph (b) of Section 6.02 of this Agreement shall occur and shall continue for a period of thirty days after notice thereof s.'all have been given by the Association to the Borrower, HLDC and AGBANK. (c) any event specified in paragraphs (c) and (e) of Section 6.02 of this Agreement shall occur. ARTICLE VII Effective Date; Termination Section 7.01. The following events are specified as additional conditions to the effectiveness of the Development Credit Agreement within the meaning of Section 10.01(b) of the General Conditions: 12 (a) The execution and delivery of the Project Agreement on behalf of HLDC and AGBANK, respectively, have been duly authorized or ratified by all necessary corporate and governmental action. (b) The execution and delivery of the First Subsidiary Loan Agreement on behalf of the Borrower, HLDC and AGBANK, respectively, have been duly authorized or ratified by all necessary corporate and governmental action. (c) The execution and delivery of the Second Subsidiary Loan Agreement on behalf of HLDC and AGBANK, respectively, have been duly authorized or ratified by all necessary corporate and governmental action. (d) HLDC has acquired title to about 192 ha of land, free and clear of encumbrances to third parties, in respect of which the Borrower has taken acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Law of 15th Sawr 1315. (e) HLDC has employed the consultants required for carrying out Part B(i) of the Project and experts referred to in Parts D(i), (ii), (iii) of the Project. Section 7.02. The following are specified as additional matters, within the meaning of Section 10.02(b) of the General Conditions, to be included in the opinion or opinions to be furnished to the Association, namely: (a) That the Project Agreement has been duly authorized or ratified by, and executed and delivered on behalf of, HLDC and AGBANK, respectively, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of HLDC and AGBANK in accordance with its terms. (b) That the First Subsidiary Loan Agreement has been duly authorized or ratified by, and executed and delivered on behalf of, the Borrower, HLDC and AGBANK, respectively, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, HLDC and AGBANK in accordance with its terms. (c) That the Second Subsidiary Loan Agreement has been duly authorized or ratified by, and executed and delivered on behalf of, HLDC and AGBANK, respectively, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of HLDC and AGBANK in accordance with its terms. Section 7.03. The date October 29, 1973 is hereby specified for the purposes of Section 10.04 of the General Conditions. Section 7.04. The obligations of the Borrower under Sections 3.01(e), 3.03, 3.04 and 3.06(i), of this Agreement and the provisions of paragraphs (a) through 13 (e) of Section 6.02 of this Agreement and those of paragraphs (a) through (c) of Section 6.03 of this Agreement shall cease and determine on the date on which the Development Credit Agreement shall terminate or on a date twenty-five years after the date of this Agreement, whichever shall be the earlier. ARTICLE VIII Representative of the Borrower; Addresses Section 8.01. The Minister of Planning of the Borrower is designated as representative of the Borrower for the purposes of Section 9.03 of the General Conditions. Section 8.02. The following addresses are specified for the purposes of Section 9.01 of the General Conditions: For the Borrower: The Ministry of Planning Kabul Afghanistan Cable address: Ministry of Planning Kabul For the Association: International Development Association 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 United States of America Cable address: INDEVAS Washington, D.C. 14 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, acting through their representatives thereunto duly authorized, have caused this Agreement to be signed in their respective names and to be delivered in the District of Columbia, United States of America, as of the day and year first above written. KINGDOM OF AFGHANISTAN By /s/ A. Malikyar Authorized Representative INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION By /s/ M. P. Benjenk Regional Vice President Europe, Middle East and North Africa 15 SCHEDULE 1 Withdrawal of the Proceeds of the Credit i. The table below sets forth the Categories of items to be financed out of the proceeds of the Credit, the allocation of amounts of the Credit to each Category and the percentage of eligible expenditures so to be financed in each Category: Amount of the Credit Allocated % of (Expressed in Expenditures Category Dollar Equivalent) to be Financed I. Loan by AGBANK 1,600,000 75% of disburse- for farm develop- ments made by ment AGBANK II. Slaughterhouse 3,000,000 85% of total (preparation of expenditures broad specifica- tions, supervision, detailed design and construction and equipment) III. (a) ERIC and TSU, ) staff salaries, ) furnishing equip- ) ment (except ) 1,000,000 85% of total transport equip- ) expenditures ment) and other ) operating expenses ) (b) Road improvement ) IV. Management and Tech- 1,400,000 100% of foreign vical services for expenditures slaughterhouse, ERIC and TSU (except the veterinarian) and training fellowships V. Transport Equipment 1,100,000 100% of foreign including vehicles expenditures for TSU and ERIC VI. Unallocated 900,000 TOTAL 9,000,000 16 2. For the purposes of this Schedule: (a) the term "foreign expenditures" means expenditures for goods produced in, or services supplied from, the territories, and in the currency, of any country other than the Borrower; and (b) the term "total expenditures" means the aggregate of foreign expenditures and expenditures in the currency of the Borrower, or for goods produced in, or services supplied from, the territories of the Borrower. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 above, no withdrawals shall be made in respect of: (a) expenditures prior to the date of this Agreement except that withdrawals may be made in respect of Category II on account of expenditures incurred after March 1, 1973, in an aggregate amount not exceeding the equivalent of $130,000; and (b) payments for taxes imposed under the laws of the Borrower or laws in effect in its territories on goods or services, or on the importation, manufacture, procurement or supply thereof. To the extent that the amount represented by the percentage set forth in the third column of the table in paragraph I above in respect of any Category would exceed the amount payable net of all such taxes, such percentage shall be reduced to ensure that no proceeds of the Credit will be withdrawn on account of payments for such taxes. 4. Notwithstanding the allocation of an amount of the Credit set forth in the second column of the table in paragraph I above: (a) if the estimate of the expenditures under any Category shall decrease, the amount of the Credit then allocated to such Category and no longer required therefor will be reallocated by the Association by increasing correspondingly the unallocated amount of the Credit; (b) if the estimate of the expenditures under any Category shall increase, the percentage set forth in the third column of the table in paragraph I above in respect of such expenditures shall be applied to the amount of such increase, and a corresponding amount will be allocated by the Association, at the request of the Borrower, to such Category from the unallocated amount of the Credit, subject, however, to the requirements for contingencies, as determined by the Association, in respect of any other expenditures; and 17 (c) if the Association shall have reasonably determined that the procurement of any item in any Category is inconsistent with the procedures set forth or referred to in Section 2.04 of the Project Agreement, no expenditures for such item shall be financed out of the proceeds of the Credit and the Association may, without in any way restricting or limiting any other right, power or remedy of the Association under the Development Credit Agreement, by notice to the Borrower, cancel such amount of the Credit as in the Association's reasonable opinion, represents the amount of such expenditures which would otherwise have been eligible for financing out of the proceeds of the Credit. 5. Notwithstanding the percentages set forth in the third column of the table in paragraph I above, if the estimate of total expenditures under Categories I, II or Ill shall increase and no proceeds of the Credit are available for reallocation to such Category, the Association may, by notice to the Borrower, adjust the percentage then applicable to such expenditures in order that further withdrawals under such Category may continue until all expenditures thereunder shall have been made. 18 SCHEDULE 2 Description of the Project The Project is part of the livestock development program of the Borrower to be carried out in the Hari-rod river valley (about 80 km upstream and downstream from Herat City) in the Herat Province. The Project consists of the following: Part A: On-farm Development (i) Provision of loans by AGBANK to assist: (I) about 1,200 farms for financing investments in on-farm development including: (a) groundwater development through dugwells, pumpsets and water distribution system; and provision of other farm development machinery and equipment; (b) breeding stock, draft oxen and donkeys; and (c) alfalfa establishment, planting materials, fertilizer, insecticides and similar inputs; and (II) the slaughterhouse farm in procuring buildings, machinery, equipment, irrigation and water supply system such as tube-wells. (ii) establishment and development of an HLDC slaughterhouse farm (about 175 ha) for, among others, alfalfa production, sheep breeding and fattening and generally to serve as demonstration to aforementioned farmers. Part B: Slaughterhouse (i) preparation of broad specifications for tender documents relating to Part B(ii) of the Project and supervision of construction by qualified engineers; (ii) detailed design, specification and construction of the slaughterhouse, processing and refrigeration machinery and equipment and other utilities; and 19 (iii) about 20, 20-ton refrigerated trucks and other transport equipment. Part C: ERIC Establishment of ERIC to conduct investigations and demonstrations in agricultural and livestock improvement and development and in range management practices. Part D: Management and Technical Services (i) services of five experts to be employed by HLDC for operating its slaughterhouse; (ii) services of three experts to be employed by HLDC for operating its slaughterhouse farm and to provide technical assistance to farmers under the Project; and (iii) services of one expert to be employed by HLDC to establish and operate ERIC. (iv) services of one veterinarian. Part E: Road Improvement Improvement and upgrading of about 70 km of access roads in the Project area. Part F: Technical Services Unit The establishment and equipping by HLDC of a unit to provide technical assistance to farmers under the Project in cooperation with MIS. Part G: Training Fellowships The provision of about sixteen fellowships for HLDC staff for training abroad.