Millions of villagers in Gujarat, India to benefit from new investment

The Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved a loan of US$329 million to build access roads to approximately 4,000 villages in all 33 districts of Gujarat, India. Insufficient road connectivity into these villages limits their ability to access healthcare services, bring their goods to market and access transportation for their children to attend school.

This project will construct and upgrade district and farm-to-market roads for the villagers and provide approaches to educational institutions, schools and hospitals. The upgraded road access is expected to have a positive impact on women and girls by improving school attendance rates for girls who currently drop out of school due to a lack of access to all weather roads.

The project will also better integrate rural populations, tribal villages, business and industries with the national and state economy through better transport connectivity. This will contribute to improved agricultural productivity, higher non-farm employment opportunities and increased rural income.

“This project will directly contribute to the economic development of the State of Gujarat, and India, by improving the mobility of the rural population.By integrating isolated and poor rural populations with the rest of the state, and improving their access to critical social services, such as education and healthcare, we can have a positive impact on the economic and social outcomes of these local communities,” said D.J. Pandian, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, AIIB.

Source: AIIB. Read full information.
6 July, 2017