67. The proposed Credit Line was reviewed for compliance with WB’s provisions for OP10.0 FIF, which governs the WB financial intermediary lending (FIL). The review found that the proposed Credit Line is broadly in line with guidelines.
The review requested to ensure that the on-lending interest rate from PFIs to end borrowers is sufficient to cover: (i) cost
of funds, (ii) administrative expenses, (iii) loan loss risk (based on historical data if available) and (iv) a small profit margin
to compensate the PFI for taking the credit risk, as the WB policy does not permit subsidized interest rates due to the
implications for sustainability. The review noted the risks associated with the largely public ownership of the potentially
participating commercial banks and requested close monitoring of such PFIs to ensure their commercial orientation. The
review also requested to closely monitor the key information on PFIs, the financial sector, credit line portfolio quality,
and credit pricing and risk allocation. The design of ALCs will be underpinned by experience in operation of ALCs in
France, Italy, and Spain. Measures to strengthen the phytosanitary capacity of SPQI are based on the lessons learned and
experiences of the reform of Russia’s plant quarantine inspection and the WTO’s SPS requirements.
68. Economic and financial analyses. Main project benefits will be generated through the increase in productivity and
profitability of the existing horticulture production through adoption of improved technologies, soil nutrient
management, as well as improved quality of outputs and better access to markets. Improved technologies are projected
to be adopted on 70 percent of the project target area, i.e. 35,000 ha. An investment horizon of 15 years is used in the
analysis to account for the phasing and gestation period of the orchards. The Economic Net Present Value, discounted at
6 percent, is estimated at US$570 million. The Economic Rate of Return is estimated at 26.5 percent.
69. Shadow price of carbon. The estimation of the net balance from all GHG expressed in CO
2
-equivalent that would
be emitted or sequestrated within the potential sub-projects was made and the social price of carbon was included in
the economic analysis. According to the calculations in EX-ACT, the project showed a total balance of 501,344 tons of
CO
2
-equivalent, which means that the project will have a positive carbon sequestration balance. The overall carbon
benefit is estimated to range between US$15 million in the low shadow price of carbon scenario to US$30 million in the
high shadow price of carbon scenario. Incorporation of this benefit into the economic analysis increases economic rate
of return by 0.8 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.