Purpose / Background

Harnessing and managing windfall revenues from natural resources poses significant challenges, including those posed by the "resource curse". In response, this Regional Knowledge Sharing Platform (the Platform) seeks to support client DMCs in effectively managing the revenues generated from the exploitation of natural resources (such as oil, gas, minerals, precious stones, forest products) and to use those revenues to foster inclusive growth and development.

Specifically, featured countries will be Cambodia, Kazakhstan, and Lao PDR. The Platform will both inform and complement a session on Natural Resource Management that the Pacific Department will host during the 2011 Annual Meeting in Ha Noi, and which will highlight experiences from Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.

The Platform is organized by RSDD in cooperation with SPD, ERD, and Regional Departments.

Objectives

At the end of the workshop, participants will have:

• the understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with the economic exploitation of natural resources in countries endowed with them; and
• full grasp of the range of successful approaches relating to macroeconomic policies, public financial management and the management of sovereign wealth funds.

Expected Outputs

• a country profile/brochure for the featured DMCs: Cambodia, Kazakhstan, and Lao PDR;
• to develop a resource revenue management network within the region; and
• to develop and establish a Resource Center on Resource Revenue Management, preferably in partnership with a well-reputed knowledge institute in the Asia-Pacific region

Target Participants

Participation is by invitation only

More than 50 participants composed of the following:

• senior government officials from Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Timor-Leste;
• representatives from development partners and diplomatic missions;
• ADB staff

Resource Speakers

Internationally renowned experts in the field:

• Anthony Venables, University of Oxford
• Andrew Lawson, Fiscus Limited, Oxford, UK
• Ashby Monk, University of Oxford & Stanford University