KATHMANDU: The World Bank has approved a $100-million loan to help Nepal accelerate its medium-term reform programme for the financial sector and to reduce the vulnerability of the banking sector and increase its transparency.
Nepal’s medium-term programme for the financial sector focuses on reforms designed to place the financial sector on a sound foundation for the future, the bank said in a statement.
Building on past gains, the Third Financial Sector Stability Credit will support four main policy areas —enhancing financial sector development; restructuring and consolidating the financial system; strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for crisis management, banking and insurance supervision and payment systems; and enhancing the governance and transparency of the banking sector.
Despite the rapid growth of the banking sector, two in every three Nepalis still have little or no access to formal financial services, it said.
Ensuring the stability of the financial system is crucial to expanding financial inclusion, said Takuya Kamata, World Bank Country Manager for Nepal. Participation in the financial system helps people start and expand businesses, manage risks and weather shocks. It also promotes social protection and women’s empowerment, he said. The credit supports a sustained focus on financial sector stability to endure broader economic recovery in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes and trade disruption, said Gabi Afram, World Bank Task Team Leader.
This Development Policy Credit, the third in the series, has been prepared in close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund and the United Kingdom Department for International Development.
Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2017
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