URBAN/REGIONAL SECTOR LOAN

THE MINISTRY OF DEVLPMNT WILL OVERSEE THE PROJ, DIRECTING FUNDS TO THE FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES -- NATL HOUSING AGENCY (ICI), INSTITUTE FOR MUNICIPAL DEVLPMNT (INSFOPAL), BANK OF THE REPUBLIC (BOR), POPULAR FINANCE CORPORATION(CFP),ADVANCED SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION(ESAP),THE NATL PLNNG DEPT(DNP) AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPT OF STATISTICS(DANE). PROJ WILL FOCUS ON INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT TO SMALL & MEDIUM-SIZED CITIES (30,000-100,000 & 100,000-300,000 POPULATIONS RESPECTIVELY). DEVLPMNT ACTIVITIES & PROJS WILL BE FINANCED RELATING TO CITY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT -- PARTICULARLY STREETS,WATER & SEWERAGE LINES PROJS,SMALL & MEDIUM LABOR-INTENSIVE INDUSTRY,LOW-INCOME HOUSING AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF LOCAL-LEVEL PUBLIC ADMIN. ASSISTANCE WILL ALSO BE DIRECTED TOWARD NATL-LEVEL ADMIN,DATA COLLECTION & POLICY-MAKING IN THE URBAN/REGIONAL DEVLPMNT SECTOR. SPECIFICALLY SCHEDULED PROGS THUS FAR INCLUDE AN ICT SITE & SERVICE PROG IN WHICH A TOTAL OF 3500 LOW-INCOME HOUSING UNITS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED. 2000 OF THESE UNITS WILL BE BUILT IN MAJOR CITIES & THE REMAINDER IN INTERMEDIATE CITIES. ESAP WILL PROVIDE 500 SHORT COURSES FOR A TOTAL OF 15,000 LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS. ICFES WILL IMPLEMENT A UNIVERSITY URBAN STUDIES PROG IN WHICH 3 UNIVS (UNIV OF VALLE,NATL UNIV IN BOGATA & THE NATL UNIV IN MEDELLIN) WILL RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN ESTABLISHING POST-GRAD PROGS IN URBAN & REGIONAL STUDIES. IN ADDITION, 8 SMALLER UNIV WILL RECEIVE FUNDS TO ESTABLISH UNDER-GRAD PROGS. THE CFP, THE PRINCIPAL COLUMBIAN INSTITUTION PROVIDING CREDIT TO SMALL & MEDIUM-SIZED LABOR-INTENSIVE INDUSTRY, WILL DOUBLE ITS LENDING PORTFOLIO DURING 1973. INSFOPAL WILL FINANCE WATER & SEWERAGE LINES IN SMALL & INTERMEDIATE-SIZED CITIES WHICH DO NOT HAVE LOCAL ENTITIES TO UNDERTAKE SUCH ACTIVITIES. PROJ WILL ALSO FINANCE 1973 CENSUS (DANE) WHICH WILL PROVIDE DATA ON URBAN/REGIONAL DEVLPMN,PARTICULARLY RURAL/URBAN MIGRATION & HOUSING. HOST-COUNTRY WILL PROVIDE PERSONNEL & INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT.