Finance, Industry, and Trade
ADB promotes the harmonization and simplification of a country's
customs administration, a key aspect of promoting foreign trade
and investment.
Corrections to an ineffective and inefficient customs system include
- promoting an adequate legal and regulatory framework
- simplifying customs procedures
- harmonizing with international standards
- increasing operational efficiency
- improving valuation techniques
ADB promotes accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and
a country's compliance with the General Agreement of Tariffs and
Trade and the numerous multilateral agreements that facilitate a
country's growth through exports.
Other Activities
2005
ASEAN + 3 Regional Multicurrency Bond (June 2005)
Supporting the development of domestic and regional bond markets and reduce financial vulnerabilities in the region
2004
Regional Customs Modernization and Infrastructure Development Project
Improving the efficiency and transparency of customs services,
and reinforce the ongoing customs legal reforms and simplification
of custom procedures; and facilitating trade and promote regional
customs cooperation through concerted customs reforms and modernization
in the East and Central Asian region
Subregional
Economic Cooperation in South and Central Asia
Assisting Afghanistan, Pakistan, and neighboring countries in
Central and South Asia in jointly identifying and prioritizing
subregional cooperation projects and programs, in particular,
the trade and transport sectors.
Facilitating Cross-Border Trade and Investment in the Greater Mekong Subregion (December 2004)
Promoting the competitiveness of GMS enterprises by
- supporting a revitalized organizational model of the GMS Business Forum to facilitate a mainstreamed, institutionalized, and systematic policy dialogue between governments and the private sector on ways to promote trade and investment in the GMS
- undertaking a study of the trade logistics network along selected economic corridors for review by the GMS Business Forum and the GMS working groups
- strengthening the development of sustainable, pro-business services in the GMS Business Forum
Formulating and Implementing an Intergovernmental Agreement of the Shanghaii Cooperation Organization Member States on Facilitation of International Road Transport (December 2004)
Promoting transport, trade, and tourism among SCO member countries in support of sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Facilitation of International Road Transport will be consistent with existing international conventions and will take into account ongoing negotiations on the Transit Traffic Agreement Framework among the PRC, Mongolia, and the Russian Federation
Long-Term Scenarios for Asian Growth and Trade, 2005-2020 (December 2004)
Facilitating the process of regional cooperation and trade integration in Asia by making available to public and private stakeholders, as well as ADB, more accurate information on the potential for and impact of intraregional trade expansion in the development of the region.
Regional Trade Facilitation and Customs Cooperation Program, Phase 2 (December 2004)
Facilitating trade and developing an enabling development environment in the ECA region through development of simplified and harmonized
customs legal frameworks and trade procedures.
Greater Silk Road Initiative 2005 (November 2004)
Main outputs and outcomes include:
- forums for continued dialogue among member countries and multilateral institutions under the CAREC mechanism
- sector road maps and new regional projects, particularly in priority areas of transport, energy, trade facilitation and trade policy
- analytical studies on regional cooperation
- strong and effective constituencies for regional cooperation
- expanded networks for information exchange and dissemination.
Transboundary
Animal Disease Control to Reduce Poverty and Enhance Market Opportunities
for Poor Livestock Farmers in Greater Mekong Subregion (October
2004)
Developing a regional cooperation framework, upgrade regional
and national laboratories, and strengthen staff capacity in the
participating countries to control TAD
Reviewing the Poverty Impact of Regional Economic Integration in the Greater Mekong Subregion (May 2004)
Determining how increased connectivity between the GMS countries through infrastructure and communications development may be managed to
ensure that the economic and social status of the poor will be significantly enhanced.
2003
Regional Financial
Sector Development (November 2003)
Harmonizing and strengthening banking sector regulation with regard
to risk management, financial disclosure standards, and the regulatory
framework for corporate governance. The RETA also aims to foster
knowledge sharing among participating countries. The RETA is part
of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program initiated
by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 1996, and complements other
program initiatives by facilitating financial sector development
and cooperation within the region.
Study for a
Regional Power Trade Operative Agreement in the GMS
Helping GMS members prepare a regional power trade operating agreement,
taking into account the IGA and desirable forms of power trade
in the GMS so as to provide reliable and economical supply of
electricity to consumers, develop sustainable energy resources,
and extend economic cooperation in the GMS.
Implementing
the Agreement for Facilitation of the Cross-Border Transport of
Goods and people in the GMS-Phase 1
Assisting the GMS governments in
- negotiations and signature of a set of critical annexes and
protocols to the agreement
- implementation of critical cross-border transport facilitation
measures at border crossings to be agreed upon.
2002
Regional Trade
Facilitation and Customs Cooperation Program involving the Kyrgyz
Republic and Tajikistan
Establishing efficient and effective customs systems that will
facilitate foreign trade and investment, encourage movement of
goods and people and promote economic growth. It will aim to strengthen
governance, transparency and improve institutional capability;
and strengthen the legal and regulatory framework in line with
international standards and conventions.
Prioritizing
Strategic Directions for Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines
East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)
Supporting the participating countries in preparing a development
blueprint for reviving and sustaining economic cooperation in
BIMP-EAGA, with refocused thrusts and priorities in response to
the changing environment and emerging challenges.
Preparing the Regional
Gas Transmission Improvement Project in the Central Asian Republics
Formulating a regional project suitable for ADB financing to improve
the gas transmission network in the five countries to facilitate
access to modern energy by the rural poor, regional major cities,
and commercial centers.
Greater
Silk Road Initiative
Promoting economic growth and raise living standards of the countries
in Central Asia through economic cooperation by
- elevating efforts to identify, prepare, and implement key
regional projects
- exploring new cooperation opportunities in line with the widening
of geographical scope
- strengthening the partnership between ADB and the participating
countries through the overall institutional framework.
Coordinating
the Revival of Cooperation Activities in Brunei Darussalam Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines
East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)
Defining the requirements and build up the capacity of the newly
created Central Project Facilitation Unit and developing a supportive
and dynamic framework for the coordination of BIMP-EAGA activities
2001
A Study on Regional
Integration and Trade: Emerging Policy Issues for Selecting Developing
Member Countries
RETA has two objects
- Assisting ADB's DMCs in policymaking through the analysis
of policy issues raised by the likely launching of a new round
of multilateral trade negotiations under WTO and the rapid proliferation
of PTAs within and outside the Asia and Pacific region
- Help raise the DMCs' capacities in trade negotiations and
policy analysis
Expanding
the Strategy for SME Development in the East Asian Growth Area
Identifying the constraints to and opportunities for SME development
through cooperation in EAGA, particularly focusing on the economic
linkages of Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam and with other EAGA
subregions to complement the results of the recently completed
strategy for SME development in EAGA, which focused on Indonesia
and the Philippines parts of the subregion.
Promoting Regional
Cooperation in the Development of Insolvency Law Reforms
Promoting efficient insolvency regimes, particularly in respect
of cross-border insolvency.
Expanding the Strategy
for Small and Medium-scale Enterprise Development in the Eastern
Growth Area
Supporting the revival of economic activities in BIMP-EAGA through
cooperation by promoting the coordinated development of SMEs in
the subregion.
South Asia Subregional
Economic Cooperation II
Institutionalizing sector working groups and the participation
of senior officials to help further develop the Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, and Nepal subregional cooperative dialogue.
Facilitating Economic
Cooperation in Eastern Parts of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,
People's Republic of China and Mongolia
Assisting the governments of the PRC and Mongolia to jointly implement
the initial activities in promoting economic cooperation in the
subject region.
Pacific Financial
Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC)
Ensuring that PFTAC will continue to provide assistance to Pacific
Developing Member Countries (PDMCs) so as to strengthen and improve
their economic and financial management capacities.
Strengthening
Asian Financial Markets
Examining Asian financial markets, their structural transformation
in the postcrisis period, the growing internal and external challenges
they face, and how these impact poverty.
2000
Capacity Building
for Financial Regulation and Supervision
Promoting the development of sound financial systems, effective
implementation of regulation and supervision, and compliance with
international best practices.
1999
Strengthening
Financial Management and Governance in Selected Developing Member
Countries.
Conducting a diagnostic review of the existing accounting and
auditing support and standards available in the selected DMCs.
Top
Microfinance plays
a significant role in ADB's overarching goal to reduce poverty in
Asia and the Pacific. ADB is a supporter of global efforts of microfinance
development.
ADB finances and closely cooperates with Consultative
Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP) to disseminate information
on global research and good experiences, and to provide technical
assistance and training. ADB actively participates in CGAP's peer
review of microfinance activities.
ADB supports a regional study on Microfinance in the Asia Pacific
region. Another regional activity is to support commercialization
of microfinance institutions for their sustainability and
increased outreach to poor people.
Regions and Countries 