Regional : Enhancing Capacity of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Arrangements to Facilitate Trade in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Sovereign Project | 46256-001

The project is in line with the GMS 10-year strategic framework, 2012 2022 and supports the thrust to facilitate cross-border trade and investment. The TA contributes to pillar 2 (trade and investment) and pillar 4 (cooperation in regional public goods) of ADB's Regional Cooperation and Integration Strategy. The TA supports the GMS program of action for trade and transport facilitation endorsed at the 16th Ministerial Conference for GMS cooperation in this area. Close coordination with the GMS Working Group on Agriculture and GMS trade facilitation related work will be maintained throughout TA implementation. Consultation with the private sector will be pursued.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Nguyen, Hung Ba
    Southeast Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Regional
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Industry and trade
Project Name Enhancing Capacity of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Arrangements to Facilitate Trade in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Project Number 46256-001
Country / Economy Regional
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 8732-REG: Enhancing Capacity of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Arrangements to Facilitate Trade in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific US$ 2.00 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Industry and trade / Trade and services
Gender No gender elements
Description The project is in line with the GMS 10-year strategic framework, 2012 2022 and supports the thrust to facilitate cross-border trade and investment. The TA contributes to pillar 2 (trade and investment) and pillar 4 (cooperation in regional public goods) of ADB's Regional Cooperation and Integration Strategy. The TA supports the GMS program of action for trade and transport facilitation endorsed at the 16th Ministerial Conference for GMS cooperation in this area. Close coordination with the GMS Working Group on Agriculture and GMS trade facilitation related work will be maintained throughout TA implementation. Consultation with the private sector will be pursued.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The proposed JFPR trade facilitation TA will build on the SPS projects for CLV, and extend SPS analysis and consultations to the GMS. It will also add value by bringing in the other countries to pursue GMS level analysis, discussions and consensus of SPS issues. In addition, the TA will prioritize analysis on cooperation between customs and SPS agencies to strengthen the linkage between them, particularly in the areas of risk profiling, risk management and information sharing, through enhanced data sharing, and the establishment of a coherent and integrated approach to risk management. This analysis will lay the essential steps that will eventually contribute the groundwork towards establishment of national single window systems and realization of the ASEAN single window, as well as the Asian Cargo Highway. The TA is in line with the trade and transport facilitation action plan endorsed by the GMS countries.

While the TA covers all GMS countries, TA activities will only be carried out in participating countries and in areas where there is demand and gaps in analysis and capacity development. TA scope and activities will be discussed in details and determined during fact finding missions with counterpart countries and agencies, and in close coordination with the ongoing and planned activities by ADB and other development partners to ensure synergy and collaboration.
Impact Agriculture, food and forestry (AFF) products in participating GMS countries traded in greater quantities
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome Enhanced SPS management system to cooperate with customs administrations in promoting trade in GMS
Progress Toward Outcome SPS agencies in Myanmar are steadily making good progress towards inter-agency co-operation as well as adopting relevant international standards and practices. A clear focus on core domestic capacity building like surveillance and laboratory testing (and less of an emphasis on improving the official border posts) at least at middle management levels has gained traction.In Lao PDR the priorities worked up in the draft SPS Action Plan mirror those that have emerged from the Stage 2 financing work so the benefits are likely to have been more marginal but there has already been a shift in thinking of at least middle managers away from such a strong focus on border operations to more domestic capacity building (e.g. in animal health).In Cambodia, support has been provided in synergy with the national project supported by ADB.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Analysis and knowledge sharing on SPS and cooperation between customs and SPS agencies conducted in GMS.

Capacity development and regional cooperation mechanism supported.

M&E and project management system established
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Multiple SPS management workshops in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar was conducted to strengthen SPS management and coordination among relevant agencies. SPS Action Plans were also developed in those countries focussing on core functions domestically for improving SPS (as opposed to focused on formal border facilities). Series of capacity development and advisory meetings were conducted in all participating countries to assist improvements in regulatory and procedural processing and operations. These are done in close coordination and synergy with national projects where appropriate.The support resulted in improvements in regulations, procedures and risk management of various SPS issues, and paving the way for further investments in boosting up SPS capabilities in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar.

Project will be completed by end of September 2019.
Geographical Location Regional
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design The ADB fact finding missions met relevant Government regulatory agencies, including key SPS and Customs agencies. The Mission also met with main development partners that are active and/or have competence in the field, to share information, and to maintain close coordination.
During Project Implementation Stakeholder consultations, including with the private sector (agro-food businesses, freight forwarders, traders, transporters etc.) will be pursued during project implementation.Special consultations in Myanmar are in progress to inform the Government's investment in strengthening both public and private sector capabilities in SPS and Food Safety to scale up safer trade in agro-produce.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services The TA will be implemented over 36 months. A consulting firm, using Quality and Cost Based Selection method (QCBS) will be recruited to provide the services. Tentatively, a total of 46 person-months international and 40 person-months of national consultants, with expertise in in sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and Customs risk based border management and clearance, ICT, SPS plant pests, forest pests and market access will be required. The consultants will be engaged by ADB in accordance with the Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2010, as amended from time to time). The team of consultants will closely coordinate with the ADB GMS SPS project in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam and with various ongoing activities in the GMS countries.
Procurement N/A.
Responsible ADB Officer Nguyen, Hung Ba
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Public Management, Financial Sector and Trade Division, SERD
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
6 ADB Avenue,
Mandaluyong City 1550, Philippines
Timetable
Concept Clearance 02 Jul 2013
Fact Finding 19 Aug 2013 to 10 Sep 2013
MRM -
Approval 02 Oct 2014
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 24 Sep 2019

TA 8732-REG

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
02 Oct 2014 - 02 Oct 2014 31 Aug 2017 30 Sep 2019 20 Nov 2019
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
0.00 2,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,000,000.00 17 Jun 2022 1,760,220.61

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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.

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Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

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Related Publications

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Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Food Safety Individual - Consulting Closed
Adminstrative support for food security Individual - Consulting Closed
International Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Expert - Team Leader Individual - Consulting Closed
International Agribusiness Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Procurement Expert-National Individual - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
Capacity Development Technical Assistance 8732 17 Apr 2015 Asian Development Bank 1,749,910.00 —

Procurement Plan

None currently available.