The World Bank announced on 15 September that it has decided to extend a new $13.5 million grant to support Georgia\'s poverty reduction program. The World Bank statement added that the country\'s poverty reduction effort will focus on \"strengthening public-sector accountability, efficiency, and transparency; improve electricity and gas sector services; improve the environment for private sector development; and improve social protection, education, and health care services.\" The 40-year credit package comes in the wake of the formalization of a five-year $295.3 million U.S. aid package to promote social and economic development. (RFE/RL)