World Bank set to assist Ukraine

MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax) - Assistance to Ukrainian agribusinesses in harvest storing, exportation, and crop sowing as well as participation in Ukraine's preparations for the challenging heating season are listed among key priorities of the World Bank, Arup Banerji, World Bank regional country director for Eastern Europe, said.

Ukrainian media outlets quoted Banerji as telling the press at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano that the World Bank would focus on two issues, firstly, assistance to agrarians and, secondly, the approaching winter.

There will be three projects related to agriculture, Banerji said. First of all, assistance will be given in storing grain outside the full elevators, secondly, logistic opportunities for grain transportation, including by Ukrzaliznytsia, will be expanded, and, thirdly, agrarians will be provided with liquidity for sowing winter crops, he said.

The current condition of healthcare is another source of concern and yet another area to be addressed by the World Bank, he said.

Banerji did not say how much exactly the projects might cost.