Dutch companies are to become more involved with improving infrastructure in developing countries under a new export subsidies scheme of the Dutch government, Dutch news service NIS reported Thursday.
Dutch Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders and Economic Affairs State Secretary Frank Heemskerk announced the new measures on Wednesday, which will come into force in 2009.
The development-relevant infrastructure development scheme (ORIO) will replace the old ORET scheme, which stood for development-relevant export subsidies.
Fewer countries will benefit from the new Dutch scheme than the previous one, and fewer sectors will be supported.
China and India will "in due course" no longer be able to benefit from the scheme, as "prosperity and competitive clout is increasing in these countries", the cabinet officials said.
However, a separate program will be started by the Economic Affairs Ministry for each of the countries with a budget of 20 million euros a year, the report said.
Of the annual ORIO budget of 120 million euros, at least half is to go to the world's poorest countries, officials said.
"The new scheme is aimed at multiple-year partnerships, in which the training and education of the local government will be an important component. Dutch companies can continue to take the initiative themselves, but demand from the developing country is central," Koenders was quoted as saying.
"Countries with good prospects like the Philippines, Thailand, Peru, Algeria, Morocco, Serbia and Montenegro will be eligible for the new scheme," Koenders said.
When the implementation of the ORIO scheme begins in 2009, an administrative agency will decide on behalf of the ministry which projects are development-relevant.
Source:Xinhua
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