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THE WORLD BANK IN SOUTH ASIA - MAY 2005
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http://www.worldbank.org/sar

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Microcredit Isn't Enough: Bangladesh Poor Get a Chance to Move Up
Imagine people that are so poor they don’t even qualify for microcredit loans.  These are the people that the Financial Services for the Poorest project, or FSP, tries to help in Bangladesh.  The poorest of the poor, the so-called “hard core” poor, often earn too little even to get into some of the more successful microcredit programs. 

Interview: Governance, A Challenge for Bangladesh
Good governance is crucial to development. Independent auditing is part of the process – that’s the aim of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh.
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FEATURED PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Sri Lanka Development Forum: The Economy, the Tsunami and Poverty Reduction
Attesting to its resilience, Sri Lanka quickly recovered from the 2001 downturn and restored growth rates averaging 5 percent annually. However, the relative peace enjoyed since the ceasefire in February 2002 has not led to higher growth. Growth has been uneven. The services sector has been the main driver, while industry has recovered more gradually from the 2001downturn, and agriculture has stagnated. Although the human and asset losses from the tsunami were extensive, the impact on output and GDP will be limited because the sectors affected only represent a small part of national production.
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NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Afghanistan Country Office Hosts Youth Open House Day (Event)

India: World Bank Supports Emergency Reconstruction In Tsunami-Hit Areas (Press Release)

WORKSHOP : Operationalizing Pro-poor Growth in India - June 9, 2005 (Event)

Nepal Development Marketplace 2005 (Event)

Pakistan Development Forum - 2005: April 25-26 "Sustaining Growth and Improving Quality of Life" (Event)

comments, suggestions - contact:

Jim Rosenberg
Multimedia Editor / South Asia
(202) 473-2767
http://www.worldbank.org/sar
The World Bank
Washington DC 20433