Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 19 of 20 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Bhutan

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VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program

92. The new COS, which was finalized in 2000, will guide the future ADB interventions in the medium term to achieve the respective operational goals and overarching objective of poverty reduction. A COS update will be prepared according to the findings and recommendations of the ongoing poverty analysis. Country economic review/updates will be prepared annually for the next three years. The economic and sector work (ESW) program for 2001-2003 will aim at providing the necessary policy and institutional framework for sector development as well as mainstreaming cross-cutting issues particularly the pro-poor element in ADB's operational program. With the finalization of the poverty reduction partnership agreement in Bhutan planned for the end of this year, the implementation of the poverty reduction strategy in the sectors that ADB continues to involve may require necessary realignment and consolidation of past and ongoing efforts. As such, sector reviews and strategies are proposed specifically for finance in 2001, power in 2002, and transport in 2003. Although the external debt position of the country remains comfortable, the situation may come under increasing pressure as concessional loans incurred in early 1990s begin repayment. ADB will assess and continue to monitor the debt servicing capacity in the short-term, medium-term, and long-term to facilitate economic planning as well as the aid and debt management of the country.

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