Japan and ADB Help Timor-Leste Prepare Major Road Improvement Project
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - A major road improvement project crucial to promoting sustainable economic growth and integration in Timor-Leste will receive assistance from Japan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Japan Special Fund, through the ADB, will provide an $800,000 grant to finance the preparation of the Road Network Development Project, while the government of Timor-Leste will contribute $200,000 to fulfill the funding requirement. “The road network development needs will be substantial. This project will assess those needs in detail and set out a comprehensive plan to address them,” said Hasan Masood, Head of the Project Administration unit of ADB’s Pacific Department. Mr. Masood said the 2009 lending program of ADB’s Pacific Department includes $10.8 million in grant from the Asian Development Fund for road improvements. “We are very hopeful that other development partners will provide co-financing,” he said. Roads play a vital role in the economic development and integration of Timor-Leste, as they are the primary mode of transport in the country, carrying 70% of freight and 90% of passengers. However, although the extensive road network spans 6,000 kilometers, half of these are undeveloped rural roads. Moreover, a detailed 2005 ADB study showed that 44% of the country’s paved roads and 89% of its unpaved roads are in poor condition. Since the study was conducted, repairs have been limited and the overall condition of the network has not improved. Information provided by the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI) also showed that the relatively long rainy season this year has made some road sections impassable, cutting off access to parts of the country. The technical assistance will be implemented in two phases. The first will produce a road inventory and database; road condition surveys; an assessment of the existing institutional setup for roads, including the contracting industry; rehabilitation and improvement strategies; and prioritization of roads for improvement. The second phase will result in initial design and feasibility studies for the selected roads; a plan for involving communities in rural road development; a maintenance program for national roads; enhanced government capability to implement road improvements and development; and recommendations for improving transport services to rural areas. About ADB | 
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