Thailand Resident Mission

County Operations Business Plan 2009-2011

The Thailand Country Operations Business Plan (COBP) 2009-2011 [ PDF ], the second COBP under Thailand's Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2007-2011 [ PDF ], has been completed. Over the past 2 years, the design and execution of a selective technical assistance program that centers on the three core strategic areas of partnership—capital market development, infrastructure development, and environment sustainable development—have contributed to the successful implementation of the CPS. ADB's indicative program of operations in Thailand from 2009 to 2011 remains consistent with the CPS at both the national and regional levels. The CPS emphasizes knowledge sharing and private sector lending; on the other hand public sector lending remains a possibility.

Capital Market Development Phase II

Under a technical assistance on capital market development, a team of five international consultants have supported the Capital Market Development Committee in drafting a new capital market master plan. An international expert is helping the Bank of Thailand to streamline and clarify the current exchange control regulations. Another international consultant is conducting a demand survey for introducing interest rate futures in Thailand.

Knowledge Transfer from Thailand to Capacitate Provincial Water Supply Enterprises in Lao PDR

To support Thailand's expanding role as regional development partner and capacity builder in the region, ADB has allocated resources for knowledge sharing and technology transfer from Thailand to Lao People's Democratic Republic in the design and O&M of water supply system. The main objective is to draw upon the technical skills and knowledge resources of Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) in Thailand to build capacity in the newly developing Provincial Nam Papas (PNPs) in Lao PDR. Key areas for capacity development program have been identified through operations and training needs analyses, and cover new technologies and approaches being adopted by the PNPs.

The training activities have been undertaken in four locations: Training Centre at Chinamo Treatment Plant, Vientiane; selected water supply systems in northeast Thailand; Training Centre at Khon Kaen regional offices of PWA, Thailand; and on-site training at selected water supply systems in provincial Lao PDR. The duration of the training program is estimated at 8 months, from April to November this year.

GMS Highway Expansion Project

The Government of Thailand has requested a loan of $77.1 million from ADB's ordinary capital resources to help finance the GMS Highway Expansion Project. It aims to upgrade about 178 km of existing two-lane national highway to a four-lane highway standard, including Highway 12 from Phitsanulok to Lom Sak (105 km) along the GMS East-West Economic Corridor and Highway 359 from Phanom Sarakham to Sa Kaeo (73 km) along the GMS Southern Economic Corridor. The project seeks to increase efficiency in the transport sector which could lower logistics costs for transport users, and eventually increase Thailand's competitiveness in the global economy.

The project will also assist the Department of Highways, Ministry of Transport in preparing implementation plan for the Strategic Intercity Motorway Network. This plan will develop a detailed and coordinated implementation and financing plan for strategic intercity motorways along three corridors radiating out from Bangkok to a distance of about 200-250 km and will include a detailed analysis of financing alternatives.

Environment Operation Center Celebrates 3^rd Anniversary with Environment Professionals from GMS

Representatives from diplomatic missions, partners, and environment professionals from Bangkok and other parts of Greater Mekong Subregion joined the celebration held in ADB Thailand Resident Mission. GMS-EOC also held a series of regional meetings where representatives from environment ministries in all GMS countries were able to participate.

Three years ago, the doors first opened to the GMS Environment Operations Center on the 23^rd floor in the Offices Central World, home to the EOC team that manages and coordinates activities carried out under ADB's technical assistance—The Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative—and acts as secretariat to the Working Group on Environment.

ADB TRM Country Director Jean-Pierre Verbiest opened the anniversary. Pimuk Simaroj, advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, gave opening remarks. A photo book giving center stage to the communities who live in the forests of the GMS People of the Forest – Portraits from Forest Communities in the Greater Mekong Subregion was launched at the reception.

Mekong Ministers Discuss GMS Cooperation Plan at 15^th GMS Ministerial Conference

The GMS ministers agreed on the strategic directions for human resource development and energy, and committed to focus efforts on transport and trade facilitation, and transform transport corridors into economic corridors. Preparations of the new 10-year GMS strategy, 2012-2022, to include approaches to emerging regional and global challenges, was initiated at the meeting held on 17-19 June at Cha-Am, Petchburi, Thailand. Vice President Greenwood co-chaired the meeting with Thailand's GMS Minister Virachai Virameteekul. Read the joint ministerial statement [ PDF ] and the news release. Read more on the 15^th GMS Ministerial Conference.

ADB President Urges Cooperation at Subregional Summits in Thailand

ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda participated in the 4^th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) and the 5^th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area* (BIMP-EAGA) on 28 February in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit in Petchburi, Thailand. President Kuroda reiterated ADB's support for these subregional cooperation initiatives and called for sustained momentum despite adverse macroeconomic conditions. Read the news release. Read the President's IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA speeches.

ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers Agree to Support ADB's General Capital Increase

The Ministers expressed their appreciation for ADB's assessment of the regional economic environment and agreed to support a substantial increase of general capital for ADB, during the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers Meeting held on 22 February in Phuket, Thailand. ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda called for an immediate and substantial increase of general capital for ADB to help countries in the region cope with the worsening impact of global financial crisis.

Mr. Kuroda briefed the Ministers on the regional economic outlook and regional policy response to the crisis and highlighted ADB's support for ASEAN+3 countries, including the promotion of local bond market development through the Asian Bond Markets Initiative, and establishment of a credit guarantee facility to make it easier for private companies to meet their local currency funding needs. Read the ADB President's speech.

ADB President Highlights Support to Private Sector to Counter Crisis, at 13^th ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting

ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda, during the 13^th ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting held on 9 April in Pattaya, briefed the Ministers on the impact of the global recession on ASEAN. He highlighted the counter-cyclical role of ADB by providing credit in areas where commercial players have retreated, to stabilize financial and private sectors, maintain development momentum, and protect the poor.

The Ministers appreciated ADB's independent and frank assessment on the regional economy, and requested ADB to work on its competent areas, such as trade and infrastructure finance, to help developing countries counter the impact of the crisis. They also urged ADB to work closely with global institutions to advance regional integration goals. Read the ADB President's speech.

Southeast Asia Faces Soaring Economic Costs if Climate Change Action Delayed, ADB Study Says

Please send feedback and inquiries to Roykaew Nitithanprapas at TRM: rnitithanprapas@adb.org.

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