The Government has made arrangements to mobilize foreign financing of US$ 2,439 million by entering into 19 Agreements with foreign development partners and lending agencies from 1 January to 30 April 2019, to support the public investment program, the mid-year fiscal report released by the Finance Ministry said.

This mobilization consists of US$ 2,431 million in the form of loans, that is, Official Development Assistance (ODA) and US$ 8 million by way of ODA grants and technical assistance.

China led the ODA commitments during this period amounting to US$ 989 million followed by the World Bank (US$ 352 million), Asian Development Bank (US$ 310 million), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (US$ 280 million), Japan (US$ 270 million), France (US$ 85 million), HSBC-Hong Kong (US$ million 72), United Kingdom (US$ 64 million), Austria (US$ 10 million), Korea (US$ 6 million), Food and Agriculture Organization (US$ 0.3 million), and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (US$ 0.02 million), respectively.

Of the commitments made in the form of ODA during the first four months of 2019, the highest amount was committed for the roads and bridges sector (US$ 1,053 million), while the ground transport sector received commitments of US$ 570 million.

In addition to the funds raised from ODA development partners, US$ 2,400 million was raised through International Sovereign Bonds (ISB) during the period under review of which, US$ 1,000 million was raised at a fixed interest rate of 6.85% with a 5 year tenure while the balance US$ 1,400 million was raised at a fixed interest rate of 7.85 % with 10 year tenure.