The World Bank has agreed to pay Bangladesh as much as it needs to carry out development work provided the projects are for the wellbeing of people, finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said on Thursday.
The minister said this after a meeting with the Bank's country director in Dhaka Mercy Miyang Tembon at his office.
He said the global lender is one of the main development partners for Bangladesh.
The Bank wants Bangladesh to work in potential areas including riverine communications.
The river route is a medium through which goods can be transported at lower cost, he noted.
Mr Kamal also said the multilateral lender also wants to work with Bangladesh on the blue economy.
The minister said during the meeting, the World Bank official also talked about the road safety in Bangladesh.
A vice president of the Bank will soon visit Bangladesh to see road safety situation in the country and how it can improve it, he noted.
In the meeting, Ms Tembon emphasised expanding focus from garment to other sectors.
In this connection, she cited technology, software, medicines, and artificial intelligence as sectors, where Bangladesh should give priority.
"Let us work together to accelerate the growth to 10 per cent and more," she said in the meeting.
Ms Tembon said Bangladesh's economy is one of the fastest-growing economies in the region.
"There are so many potential areas where we can work together to accelerate growth to double-digit and the bank is here to support that," she said.
