APA-Cairo (Egypt) The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) is due to provide US$22,46 million as loans to four African countries to finance development projects in their countries.

BADEA said in statement released on Friday that the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa will sign four loan agreements on Monday in Cairo with four African countries, namely Senegal, Benin, Malawi and Niger with total value of US$22.46 million.

The statement noted that BADEA will provide Senegal with US$ 8 million for a road project.

Benin will receive a loan of US$1.26 million for the National Fund for small loans,while Malawi will receive US$ 7 million to finance a project to build three institutes for training of teachers.

The Republic of Niger will receive US$ 6.2 million for a project to support food security in two regions in the country.

BADEA Director General Abdelaziz Khelef will sign the loan agreements with Minister of Economy and Finance of Niger and ambassadors of Senegal, Benin, and Malawi in Cairo.

The Director-General of BADEA said that the bank will raise the total amount of loans to one billion dollar in the new Five-Year Plan 2010 - 2014 which is US$ 100 million increase compared to the previous plan.

He added that the bank will support projects of irrigation and establishment of rural food markets as well as providing necessary funding for the regional trade blocks.

Khelef said half of the funding provided by the bank will be allocated for infrastructure projects, particularly building new roads to boost trade between African regions and neighboring countries