Regional: SASEC Information Highway Project (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal)

This project aims to make ICT more accessible, affordable, inclusive, sustainable, and useful to remote and rural communities, entrepreneurs, and research and training institutes in all SASEC countries. It will deliver and facilitate modern broadband information, communication, and knowledge services within and across borders to governments, businesses, research institutes, and rural and remote communities. It is expected to help the SASEC countries improve their productivity and efficiency and participate fully in the global information economy.


PROJECT DETAILS

Commitment Date

Funding Type

Country

Sector

Status

Total Cost

15 Dec 2008

Loan/Grant

Regional

ICT

Closed

$19.80 million

KEY OUTPUTS

SASEC Regional ICT Network with fiber optic network connecting the SASEC countries 

SASEC Village Network comprising of community e-centers, village portals, and knowledge database systems, and in-country agreements for transfer and operation

SASEC Research and Training Network with university-based research and training centers in each SASEC country, a business linkage challenge fund, and online and off-line research and training programs

FINANCING

$4.7 million (Asian Development Fund - Grant for Bhutan)

$5 million (Asian Development Fund - Grant for Nepal)

$2.87 million (Asian Development Fund - Loan for Bangladesh)

$1.2 million (Government of Bhutan)

$2.2 million (Government of Nepal)

$1.1 million (Government of Bangladesh)

$2.73 million (Government of India)