Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 15 of 22 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment II. Poverty Reduction and 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 IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Cambodia

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IV. Regional Cooperation

91. ADB will support Government efforts to improve regional cooperation through the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program (ECP), which seeks to enhance regional development opportunities, encourage trade and investment among the GMS countries, resolve or mitigate cross-border problems, and meet common resource and policy needs. The GMS countries include Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet Nam, Myanmar, and Yunnan, China. ADB will provide regional TA and selected ADF-financed investments in support of the GMS ECP. There is potential for private sector funded GMS projects in transport, telecommunications, tourism, and energy. Recent accomplishments include the April 2000 signing of an agreement on commercial navigation on the Mekong River and an October 2000 Business Forum, held in Bangkok, to enhance cooperation among private sector parties active in the GMS region.

92. In transport the objective of the GMS program is to facilitate exchange and development between and among the GMS countries, reducing transport costs and increasing the efficiency of movement of goods and passengers. Projects that involve Cambodia include the Bangkok-Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh City-Vung Tau Road Project, of which a portion was financed under the GMS: Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh City Highway Project, currently under implementation. The 2002 pipeline assistance for road improvement could potentially finance an additional portion of this GMS project. The Southern Lao PDR-Sihanoukville Project and the Northeast Thailand-Southern Lao PDR-Northern Cambodia-Central Viet Nam Project are also potential future projects in Cambodia.

93. In environment, the objective is to foster regional cooperation in managing the shared and linked resources of the Mekong River System. ADB will finance the GMS: Integrated Natural Resource Management Project in 2002. Cambodia also benefits from the Subregional Environmental Monitoring and Information System and Subregional Environmental Training and Institutional Strengthening System, which are expected to increase the capacity of member countries to make informed decisions regarding sustainable development based on shared information and enhanced capacity. An additional environmental project being prepared under GMS for possible grant financing is the Poverty Reduction and Environmental Improvement in Remote Watersheds in the Greater Mekong Subregion Project.

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