Regional : Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion (Phase 2)
The proposed regional knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will support the Greater Mekong Railway Association (GMRA) in accelerating the development of rail connections among the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries by (i) improving the organizational structure of the GMRA; (ii) preparing an operational readiness plan to ensure appropriate standards for technology on safety, productivity, and environmental quality of railway operations; (iii) updating the GMS railway strategy for the development of missing cross-border railway links and associated domestic connections; (iv) updating the Mekong (Sub-) Regional Transport Model (MRTM) prepared under phase 1 of the TA for Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion, enhancing the capacity to utilize it effectively; and (v) identifying bankable railway projects in GMS countries.
Project Details
-
Project Officer
Islam, Mohammad Nazrul
Sectors Group
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Regional -
Sector
- Transport
| Project Name | Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion (Phase 2) | ||||
| Project Number | 42518-025 | ||||
| Country / Economy | Regional Cambodia Lao People's Democratic Republic Myanmar China, People's Republic of Thailand Viet Nam |
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| Project Status | Closed | ||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Technical Assistance |
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| Source of Funding / Amount |
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| Operational Priorities | OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration |
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| Sector / Subsector | Transport / Rail transport (non-urban) |
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| Gender | No gender elements | ||||
| Description | The proposed regional knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will support the Greater Mekong Railway Association (GMRA) in accelerating the development of rail connections among the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries by (i) improving the organizational structure of the GMRA; (ii) preparing an operational readiness plan to ensure appropriate standards for technology on safety, productivity, and environmental quality of railway operations; (iii) updating the GMS railway strategy for the development of missing cross-border railway links and associated domestic connections; (iv) updating the Mekong (Sub-) Regional Transport Model (MRTM) prepared under phase 1 of the TA for Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion, enhancing the capacity to utilize it effectively; and (v) identifying bankable railway projects in GMS countries. | ||||
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | The GMS countries have identified and agreed upon nine missing cross-border rail links that, when completed, will enhance railway connectivity in the GMS. The GMRA Board approved the nine rail links in March 2015. The need to develop the future railway network to consider current developments in railway technology already common in People's Republic of China and many other countries, plus emerging developments in train control, train operations, motive power and communications were identified with support of Phase 1. Enhancing the readiness of the GMRA to accommodate appropriate technologies would lead to enhanced safety, railway productivity and reduced environmental impact. The GMRA seeks to accelerate railway connectivity by promoting efficient, safe, reliable, and environmentally sustainable rail transport of goods and people within and beyond the GMS. ADB's TA for Support for Implementing the Action Plan for Transport and Trade Facilitation in the Greater Mekong Subregion helped to prepare and finalize the Framework Agreement on Cross-Border Railway Transport Connectivity in the GMS, which was discussed among GMS countries on 24 May 2019 at ADB headquarters and will subsequently be subject to further negotiation and the national ratification processes of the GMS countries. Through the support provided by this KSTA, the capacity and effectiveness of the GMRA will be enhanced and the knowledge of participating railway organizations will be strengthened. Although Phase 1 (i.e.TA 9123-REG) made good progress with the prioritization of the missing railway links, it is essential to define the emerging changes in railway technologies and its potential impact on GMS railway operations and investment, conduct further detailed analysis of what is appropriate given the legacy investment in railway infrastructure, and continue consultation with railway organizations. |
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| Impact | Greater railway connectivity in the GMS provided. |
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| Project Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Description of Outcome | GMRA functioning with adequate capacity and funding. |
| Progress Toward Outcome | In addition to the 5 outputs described a new output has been added A1: Framework Agreement for the CBRTCA Finalized through up to 3 negotiations in 2021Rationale: the CBRTCA is a critical instrument to operationalize the GMRA as a legal, international organization with permanent staff and sustainable funding.The TA has completed the technical work to achieve Output 1 (GMRA) and Output 4 (Updating the MRTM demand model). In regards, Output 1 additional effort is being made to ensure the parties fully understand the recommendations and the necessary materials to operationalize them are being prepared. Follow-up bilateral and plenary meetings are on-going. |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | Organizational structure of the GMRA improved. Operational Readiness Plan for the GMRA developed. GMS railway network development strategy updated. Updated GMS transport demand model prepared. Bankable railway projects identified in GMS countries. |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | 1. Conducted the 1st Inception Workshop for ADB TA-9918 REG: Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion (Phase 2) on Sept 14, 2020.2. Conducted TA 9918 1st Working Group eMeeting: Greater Mekong Railway Association (GMRA) on Dec 16, 20203. Conducted TA 9918 2nd Working Group eMeeting: Greater Mekong Railway Association (GMRA) on Apr 28, 20214. Loan Negotiations for the framework agreement was conducted on 26 July 2021The TA-9918 team has planned to prepare a knowledge product using the outputs a detailed annotated outline and storyline has been prepared. A first draft of the knowledge product is planned for end November 2022. Summary of progress for each outputs is stated below:1. Organizational Structure of the GMRA:- Recommendations in Progress Report 1 (Dec. 2020) were: (i) the GMRA be established as a legal, international organization; and (ii) the current non-legal, intergovernmental GMRA be expanded with a small group of administrative and technical experts seconded from each of the countries whose mission would be to finalize all key issues standing in the way of the conversion of the GMRA to a legal, international organization.- A roadmap to operationalize the recommendations was presented at WG#6 meeting on July 26, 2022 and the preparation of recommended documentation and discussions on them are underway.- Final recommendations prepared and have been submitted to WG#7 meeting, Oct 11, 2022.1A. Framework Agreement for the CBRTCA finalized:- Bilateral meetings with all countries except Myanmar.- Plenary meetings with all countries.- A draft agreed text has been prepared and almost agreed with 4 countries, but further negotiations needed.- Viet Nam has established a new negotiation group and wishes to engage constructively to finalize the text in the coming months (likely to March 2023).2. Operational Readiness Plan Prepared:- A draft Operational Readiness Plan has been prepared.- A statistical appendix on GMS railway performance is being prepared.- Final Operational Readiness Plan to be prepared during October 20223. Greater GMS network development strategy updated:- Update of development of the railway missing links and associated domestic railway links including a feasible and likely sequence of the development of the railway links is complete.- Environmental and social safeguards analysis is underway.- The draft Working Paper on Output 3 has been submitted to WG#7 meeting, Oct 11, 2022.4. Updated GMA transport demand model prepared:- Updated calibration of the demand model and projections are complete for 2030 and 2050.5. Bankable railway projects identified in GMS countries:- The draft report on Output 5 was circulated in August 2022. Awaiting comments from the GMRA participants countries. |
| Geographical Location | Cambodia - Nation-wide; China - Nation-wide; Lao People's Democratic Republic - Nation-wide; Myanmar - Nation-wide; Thailand - Nation-wide; Viet Nam - Nation-wide |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
|---|---|
| Environmental Aspects | |
| Involuntary Resettlement | |
| Indigenous Peoples | |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
| During Project Design | Covid-19 restrictions for travel and limitations caused a slight delay for onboarding of consultants for the project. |
| During Project Implementation | Since covid-19 disallowed for face to face meetings, ADB organized virtual meetings for discussions to take place. In the 1st Inception Workshop held last 14 September 2020, Myanmar accepted the chairmanship of the GMRA.Due to the continuing Covid19 restrictions in the region, it has been necessary to hold virtual consultations with the Working Group, consisting of the railway and transport representatives of the GMS, and this situation will continue to end 2021. On 16 December 2020, the 1st Working Group eMeeting was held and the 2nd was on 28 April 2021. Loan Negotiations for the framework agreement was conducted on 26 July 2021. A virtual meeting of the Board of Directors of the GMRA is proposed for November 2021.The following meetings were held in 2022:3rd GMRA FA-CBRTC Negotiation meeting - Jan 12, 2022Negotiation meeting on the FA-CBRTC - Mar 29, 2022New FA-CBRTC Documents and Next Negotiation meeting - May 24, 2022Meeting on cross-border rail agreement (FA-CBRTC) - Jul 1, 2022Bilateral meeting between VIE and ADB consulting group - Aug 3, 2022FA-CBRTC Meetings - Aug 31, Sep 23, Oct 28, Nov 25.The following meetings are also set:Working Group Meeting, 6 December 2022; FA-CBRTC Negotiation Meetings: 16 Dec 2022, 11 Jan, 3 Feb 2023. TA 9918 is extended until 30 April 2023, to summarize key accomplishments and what remains to be done. |
| Business Opportunities | |
|---|---|
| Consulting Services | ADB will engage the consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions. Implementation will require 14 person-months of individual consultants in the core team. Output-based contracts will be used for study team consulting services when possible. |
| Procurement | There is no expected procurement of goods for this TA. |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Islam, Mohammad Nazrul |
| Responsible ADB Department | Sectors Group |
| Responsible ADB Division | Transport Sector Office (SG-TRA) |
| Executing Agencies |
Asian Development Bank |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 06 Aug 2019 |
| Fact Finding | 06 Sep 2019 to 13 Sep 2019 |
| MRM | - |
| Approval | 19 Dec 2019 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 01 Dec 2022 |
TA 9918-REG
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 19 Dec 2019 | - | 19 Dec 2019 | 31 Dec 2021 | 30 Apr 2023 | 05 Sep 2023 |
| Financing Plan/TA Utilization | Cumulative Disbursements | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADB | Cofinancing | Counterpart | Total | Date | Amount | |||
| Gov | Beneficiaries | Project Sponsor | Others | |||||
| 0.00 | 500,000.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 500,000.00 | 23 Sep 2023 | 477,579.29 |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
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| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion (Phase 2): Technical Assistance Report | Technical Assistance Reports | Dec 2019 |
| Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion, Phase 2: Technical Assistance Concept Paper | Concept Papers | Jul 2019 |
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
None currently available.
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
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Tenders
| Tender Title | Type | Status | Posting Date | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Environmental Safeguards Specialist (international) | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Senior Social Safeguards Specialist (international) | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Senior Social Safeguards Specialist (international) | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Senior Railway Transport Economist (International) | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Senior Environmental Safeguards Specialist (international) | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Senior Transport Modeling Specialist (International) | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Senior Railway Management and Institutional Specialist (International) | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Senior Regional Capacity Building and Communications Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion (Phase 2) | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Connecting the Railways of the Greater Mekong Subregion (Phase 2) | Individual - Consulting | Closed |
Contracts Awarded
Procurement Plan
None currently available.