Announcement of IDA Approves Five Million Dollars for Industrial and Artisan Employment in Niger on May 25, 1978

FOR IM~EDI.ATE RELEA.SE .World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202} 393-6360 I DA NEWS RELEASE NO. 78/75 MAY 25, 1978 IDA APPROVES $5 MILLION FOR INDUSTRIAL AND ARTIS~N EMPLOYMENT IN NIGER A project aiming at the promotion of labor-intensive employ- ment in.Niger's industrial and artisan sectors will receive a $5 mill ion credit from the World Bank's affiliate, the International De- velopment Association (IDA). In addition to strengthening the two sector's institutional infrastructure, the project will assist, through a line of credit to Banque de Developpment de la Republique du Niger (BORN), relatively L<.;. r - i nten s i ve s ma 11- and med i um- s ca 1e en t e r p r i s es • I t wi l 1 he 1p upgrade BDRN's Development Department by providing technical assist- ance and training programs, including the development of a Bank Man- agement Training Program at Ecole Nationale d 1 Administration (ENA) to serve all six Nigerian financial institutions • • The project wi 11 provide financial and technical assistance, along with the United Nations Development Program (UNOP), for Office de Promotion de l 'Entreprise Nigerienne (OPEN), a new agency which will provide technical assistance and training for local entrepreneurs. Finally, financial and technical assistance is also provided under the project to the Artisan Center of the National Museum to im- prove the productivity and employment of artisans affiliated with the center and develop the export market for their products. The $5 million IDA credit to the Republic of Niger wi 11 be for a SO-year term, including 10 years of grace. It will be interest- free but will carry a service charge of 3/4 of 1% per annum to cover IDA's administrative expenses. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents • • FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T ECHN I CAL DA TA PROjECT: • Industrial and Artisan Sector Employment Creation COUNTRY: Niger TOTAL COST~ $8. l mi l l i on IDA FINANCING: $5 mi 11 ion (Standard) OTHER FINANCING: Government of Niger: $2 million United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) $1.1 million. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministere du Plan B.P. 862 Niamey, Republique du Niger Telex: 5230 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A line of credit to Banque de Developpement de la Republique du Niger (BORN) financed by this credit will assist relatively labor-intensive s~1all- and medium-scale enterprises; technical assistance and training programs for BORN, including the development of a Bank Management Training Program at Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA) to serve all six Nigerian financial institutions, will help upgrade BDRN's Development Department. The project will also provide financi~ and technical assistance, with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Office d ~ Promotion de l 'Entreprise Nigerienne (OPEN) a new agency which will provide technical assistance and training for local entrepreneurs. Financial and technical assistance is also provided under the project to the Artisans Center of the National Museum to improve the productivity and employment of artisans affiliated with the Center and to develop the export market for their products; through this component the project will assist some of the poorest segments of the urban population. PROCUREMENT: The purchase of equipment and goods under the project is not suitable for international competitive bidding, given the small size and nature of most of the subprojects to be financed and goods to be procured. The Artisan Center, ENA, OPEN and BDRN wi 11 follow local competitive bidding procedures which are acceptable to the Association. The rate of return on the Artisan Center component is expected • ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: to exceed 30%. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1982 - 0 -