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Spotlight
Thailand's Prime Minister Opens ADB Supported e-Learning Center
 Prime Minister Abisith presided the opening of the Electronics Learning and Information Network Center at Chulalongkorn Demonstration Primary School on 9 October 2009. The e-learning project and the network center were supported by the Republic of Korea's e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund through ADB's technical assistance on capacity building and school networking for education services (e-Learning) in Thailand. On this occasion, Jean-Pierre Verbiest, Country Director, ADB Thailand Resident Mission, on behalf of ADB, received an award from the Prime Minister for the support on e-learning and education in Thailand.
First Joint Initiative: GMS Southern Economic Corridor Press Tour
 From 22 to 28 November 2009, journalists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam traveled 1,500 km by road from Bangkok-Trat, Thailand to Koh Kong-Kampot, Cambodia and Ha Tien-Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam to explore the development progress, potentials, and challenges along the corridor. Read the program.
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| Knowledge Sharing and Advisory Services |
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Capital Market Development Phase II
ADB continued to provide technical support to Thailand on capital market development. The technical assistance, approved in July 2008, initially comprised four key components: drafting of capital market development master plan, Bond Market Development Fund, Secondary Mortgage Corporation, and exchange control study.
A team of experts worked closely with the Secretariat to the Capital Market Development Committee to complete the master plan which was launched in November 2009. Two bond market experts also worked closely with the Public Debt Management Office on the on-lending and guarantee guidelines and on the operation of the Bond Market Development Fund. Another expert helped the Secondary Mortgage Corporation identify weaknesses and opportunities in its operation. The exchange control expert worked with the Bank of Thailand in exploring how exchange control can satisfy both financial stability and capital market development purposes. Later on in 2009, there were requests for further support on interest rate futures, capital market development fund, and taxation for mergers and acquisitions.
All components were completed under ADB technical assistance. However, more work has to be done under the new capital market development master plan and ADB will continue to support capital market development in Thailand.
Capacity Building and School Networking for e-Learning in Thailand
ADB assisted the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Elementary School to develop an internet-based distance learning education curriculum for elementary school levels. The technical assistance aims to enhance the capacity of teachers and students in remote areas. Through e-learning modules taught by well-trained teachers, elementary school students in remote areas can receive the necessary curriculum to prepare them for the national test. The system network was completed in October 2009, and teachers from 50 participating schools all over the country can now access the e-learning modules through the network.
A demonstration schools networking conference was organized on 17 October 2009 with keynote presentation by Hoisoo Kim, Professor from Chonnam National University, Republic of Korea. The conference shared with other demonstration schools the experience of the e-learning project and brainstorm with them on how to work together in developing e-learning in Thailand.
Strengthening Capacity of Provincial Water Supply Enterprises in Lao PDR
 ADB has allocated some resources for knowledge sharing and technology transfer from Thailand to Lao PDR with the support from Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) of Thailand. All training activities were completed in 2009. PWA Deputy Governor Ratana Kitchwan and assigned trainers visited Lao PDR on 23 December 2009 for the post evaluation and closing session chaired by Khamthavy Thaiphachanh, Acting Director General, Department of Housing and Urban Planning, Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
With the suitable courses of training and similarities in verbal language (between trainers and trainees) and geographical features, the training program yielded a positive outcome as shown by the performances of all trainee operators from every town. Lao PDR has also shown strong interest in requesting the same training courses from ADB and PWA to further develop waterworks in several towns next year.
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| Environment |
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Asian Governors Support Carbon Market Compensations
On the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting hosted in Singapore, ADB in collaboration with a private sector firm Carbon Conservation held on 12 November 2009 a round table event for Asian governors.
The round table involved governors, vice-governors, and senior local government officials across Asia and the Pacific. The participating Asian governors were targeting compensation under the emerging global forest carbon market, including the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) mechanism, to support provincial development. GMS-Environment Operations Center supported the participation of the Vice-Governor of Attapeu Province, Lao PDR.
The meeting aimed to discuss emerging models for sharing the benefits from REDD payments at the local, provincial, national, and regional levels, including potential links between REDD and regional efforts to combat transboundary haze.
The meeting was organized to maximize the opportunity for the governors to discuss and exchange experiences. During the roundtable, participants agreed that the REDD+ approach offers tremendous promise in creating a new set of incentives for the preservation and sustainable management of forests. They encouraged APEC leaders, the international development community, and those negotiating a post-2012 climate change agreement to bring this concept to reality so that the REDD+ mechanism can provide tangible local and global benefits.
The GMS Working Group on Environment (WGE) Discusses REDD
Revenue-sharing, the importance of involving local communities in the planning of REDD mechanisms, land management and REDD's role in the coming negotiations at COP-15 in Copenhagen, this December 2009, were all central issues that were discussed during the 4 th semi-annual meeting of the GMS Working Group on Environment (WGE-SAM4) which met 25 – 26 November in Bangkok, Thailand.
Through presentations on national experiences on REDD from Lao PDR, Cambodia, Viet Nam and Thailand, a common framework was laid out for discussing the relevance of REDD in the GMS as a tool for combining biodiversity conservation with poverty reduction and sustainable development. With the presence of both national experts from the GMS, international development partners such as ADB, Sida and USAID, and regional specialists from GMS Core Environment Program further ground was covered in building capacity and knowledge of the mechanisms of REDD in the specific context of the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The technical workshop succeeded the first day's programmatic agenda on progress, status and next steps in the supplemental activity phase of the GMS Core Environment Program.
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| Economic and Sectoral Work |
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Developing Asia Needs Broader Openness, Says ADO 2009 Update
Developing Asia would benefit significantly from a broader openness which would boost intra-regional economic interaction without compromising its vital existing links with the rest of the world, says Asian Development Outlook 2009 Update , launched by Jean-Pierre Verbiest, Country Director, Thailand Resident Mission in September 2009 in Bangkok. Read news release.
Launch of Asia Economic Monitor, December
Emerging East Asian economies have performed better than anticipated due to swift policy responses and an improved external environment. The region is set for a speedy recovery this year (2009) and in 2010, according to the Asia Economic Monitor launched by ADB Chief Economist Jong Wha Lee in December 2009 in Manila. Read news release and special note.
ADB also released a special assessment in the same day, which expected that developing Asia would grow by 4.5% in 2009 and 6.6% in 2010. Read news release.
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| Regional Cooperation |
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ADB President Addresses East Asia/BIMP-EAGA Summits
 ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda joined the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the BIMP-EAGA Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand on 25 October 2009. He called on the EAS heads to work toward achieving a regionally integrated and globally connected Asian economy and to play a construction role in reshaping the global financial architecture. He congratulated the BIMP-EAGA leaders for accelerating subregional cooperation through their endorsement of 12 priority infrastructure projects worth $1 billion. Mr. Kuroda also met with Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak. Read East Asia Summit speech, BIMP-EAGA speech, and news release.
GMS Cross-Border Transport Agreement at Mohan-Boten Borders
The People's Republic of China (PRC) and Lao PDR signed a memorandum of understanding on the implementation of GMS Cross-Border Transport Agreement at Mohan (PRC)-Boten (Lao PDR) borders in September 2009. ADB facilitated the negotiation and finalization of the MOU. Presidents of the PRC and Lao PDR witnessed the signing ceremony. The MOU will be implemented in 2010 to promote transport and trade facilitation.
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| Conference |
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Thailand Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership Forum
Jean-Pierre Verbiest, Country Director, ADB Thailand Resident Mission; Sathit Limpongphan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance; and Pongpanu Svetarundra, Director General of Comptroller General Department, delivered opening remarks on 18 November 2009 in Bangkok. The forum discussed the use of PPP to finance infrastructure projects under the Thai Economic Stimulus Package II. Joe Yamagata, Deputy Director General, ADB Private Sector Operations Department, gave a keynote address. Read the country director's remarks.
Going Green for Sustainable Development
 Robert Dobias, Senior Advisor on the Climate Change Program, made a presentation on Going Green for Sustainable Development to more than 450 representatives from governments, private sector, state enterprises, international organizations, and the media. ADB, the TEAM Group of Companies, Thai Chamber of Commerce, and Federation of Thai Industries hosted the meeting on 27 November 2009 in Bangkok. See the presentation.
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