MANILA, PHILIPPINES - A $500,000 technical assistance grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help the Government of Mongolia overhaul the management of its poorly maintained network of roads.

The grant is from the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund funded by the Government of Korea. It will fund the introduction of a new road database management system.

The country's booming economy in recent years has seen corresponding growth in its road network. However its existing road database is limited and it lacks the management tools to develop and operate an adequate maintenance program.

The grant will finance a state-of-the-art geographic information system that will update the existing database and provide accurate and timely information on road conditions to the government and road users. It will help the government improve its planning and budgeting for road maintenance. Assistance will also be given to set up a data center and web server, and for training and other activities designed to strengthen the capacity of the Department of Roads.

"Mongolia’s deteriorated roads are contributing to unsafe, inefficient and uncomfortable travel and the technical assistance will help the Government address the issue by improving its road asset management system," said Oyunchimeg Erdene, Transport Specialist in ADB’s East Asia Department.

The Ministry of Roads, Transport, Construction and Urban Development will be the executing agency for the technical assistance, which is expected to be completed in 2010. The Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund, managed and administered by ADB, supports projects that improve access to information and modern technology for developing member countries, helping them bridge the digital divide with richer nations.