World Bank lists budget, infrastructure, economic growth among priorities of Ukraine support

MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax) - The World Bank supports rapid recovery programs in Ukraine, the bank's Regional Country Director for Eastern Europe Arup Banerji said.

Fast recovery must run simultaneously with continued support for essential services, and planning for reconstruction efforts will also need to start before the crisis is over, Banerji said in an interview with Ukrainian journalists.

The first priority is continued support to the government budget for the core public services such as healthcare, education and social protection, the World Bank official said, adding that this year Ukraine needs about $3 billion-$4 billion a month for these purposes.

Another priority is to repair and rebuild energy infrastructure, assistance to restore critical infrastructure, which includes repairing schools and hospitals, ensuring heating, electricity and water supplies, as well as repairing roads and houses, he said.

The World Bank has been providing support through the Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Enhancement in Ukraine project, or PEACE for Ukraine, Banerji said.

When asked about the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund, set up by the World Bank at the end of last year to coordinate grant financing, Banerji said that the fund has received $295 million to date.