Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 22 of 23 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 - Thailand

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VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program

134. Economic and Sector Work (ESW) will target the social and agriculture/rural development sectors, deemed to be the focus for the ADB’s program in Thailand, and the financial sector, where the ADB is pursuing a cooperative role, principally in the area of capital markets development. Specific requests were made by high-level officials in NESDB, MOAC, and MOF, for ADB to participate in informal workshop sessions both in Bangkok and up-country together with officials from these institutions. These workshops would identify emerging problems of development and formulate appropriate strategy and policy directions on issues related to poverty reduction, agricultural development, the role of NGOs in the provision of government services, and fiscal decentralization plans. In terms of poverty reduction, the ADTA for NESDB on Preparation of a Medium-Term Recovery Strategy, approved in December 1999, should provide the basis for the high-level forum on poverty reduction scheduled in April 2001, finalization of the COS, and preparation of a partnership agreement on poverty reduction with the Government by August 2001. An environment sector strategy for Thailand was finalized in 1999, and a comparative analysis of environment and natural resource management in the Greater Mekong Subregion was completed recently. Reflecting the sector priorities and policy directions identified through the aforementioned ESW, preparation of the COS is expected to commence in December 2000.

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