Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 20 of 20 BACK | NEXT I. Introduction II. Background and Rationale III. Economic and Social Trends IV. Program Review - Lessons Learned V. Strategic Directions of the GMS Program for 2001-2003 VI. Sector Properties and Proposed Program for 2001-2003 VII. ADB's Operational Program VIII. Coordination with Donor Agencies and Regional Institutions IX. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources

GMS Assistance Plan

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IX. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources

116. ADB’s financial support for GMS subregional projects are complemented by cofinancing from other donors. ADB has been able to mobilize cofinancing for two investment projects—the Theun Hinboun Hydropower Project and the Nam Leuk Hydropower Project—amounting to $234 million from both official and private sources. The Theun Hinboun Project in particular was able to attract a consortium of private investors and commercial financiers. ADB’s catalytic role in resource mobilization is exemplified in the East West Corridor Project where various project components are being funded by the Government of Japan, the World Bank, and the Royal Thai Government.

117. For technical assistance projects, ADB has been able to mobilize a total of $13 million in cofinancing from various donors. This represents about one third of the total cost of ADB-assisted regional technical projects in the GMS. Bilateral cofinancing sources include Australia, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom while multilateral financing sources include ILO, ESCAP, and UNEP. The ADB-administered Japan Special Fund (JSF) has provided more than half of the financing requirements of GMS technical assistance projects since 1992.

118. The shift in the focus of the GMS Program towards a pro-poor strategy is expected to generate new and innovative partnerships with both official and private sector funding sources for subregional projects. ADB will seek collaboration with donors that are active and continue to be interested in the social and environment sectors. Potential interested donors will be identified at the early stages of project development and involved in the development of subsequent phases.

119. Together with project-specific resource mobilization initiatives, there will be parallel efforts to promote investments in the GMS as a whole, by marketing the region as a viable single investment destination. In this regard, the GMS Business Forum, which was established in October 2000 in Bangkok, would be a vehicle for strengthening and expanding relationships with and among donor agencies and business organizations. ADB participation in the business sector meetings in Thailand in February 2000, in conjunction with the Thailand Board of Investment Fair, as well as investment seminars in Japan held in June 2000, have succeeded in confirming continued interest of businesses in the region as well as in specific investment opportunities under the GMS Program.

Back VIII. Coordination with Donor Agencies and Regional Institutions	GMS Assistance Plan