Regional: Enhancing Effectiveness of Subregional Programs to Advance Regional Cooperation and Integration in Southeast Asia

Energy / Electricity transmission and distribution

Finance / Infrastructure finance and investment funds

Industry and trade / Industry and trade sector development

Public sector management / Economic affairs management

Transport / Multimodal logistics

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development

The ADB provided support since 1996 and serves as regional development advisor to BIMP-EAGA and regional development partner to IMT-GT. Summit declarations by both subregional programs highlighted ADB's valuable role in enhancing their effectiveness at strategic, sector, project(s), and institutional levels. In recent years, ADB assistance is through TA 8814 and TA 8836 expected to close in December 2018. TA 8814 achievements include: (i) Green Cities Action Plans (GCAPs) in seven cities and ASEAN green cities network; (ii) preparation of BEV 2025 and IMT-GT Tourism Strategic Framework 2017 2036; (iii) thematic studies on cross-border power interconnections, economic corridors, value chains and border area development; (vi) statistical databases developed, and (vii) capacity building and institutional strengthening for BIMP-Facilitation Center (FC) and Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT), among others. TA 8836, also known as the BIMP-EAGA, IMT-GT and Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Capacity Building Program or B-I-G Program organized 17 trainings and workshops on connectivity and RCI attended by 481 middle and senior level government officials. The B-I-G Program collaborates with 17 partner institutions and promotes knowledge and experience sharing between and among the three subregions. It also tapped the technical expertise and experience of People's Republic of China (PRC) government, education and training institutions in the design and delivery of training programs where the experience of the PRC in national development and RCI highlighted. PRC value-added to the three subregions is unique given it assumes multiple roles as development partner in BIMP-EAGA, as dialogue partner in IMT-GT, and member country in GMS.

The proposed KSTA builds on achievements of previous TAs and is a continuation of ADB support in a more integrated and purposive manner. Instead of having two separate TAs, only one KSTA is proposed for greater coherence, cost-effectiveness, and better results delivery. While ADB support has been for more than a decade, changes in the development landscape, new strategic documents, demand for well-designed subregional projects, and weak institutional capacities require sustained and continuous support. Lessons and successes from TAs 8814 and 8836 incorporated in the design include: (i) strong country ownership and demand; (ii) alignment and coherence with ASEAN; (iii) need for credible subregional project pipelines and more importantly convert these into bankable projects; (iv) systematic approach to results monitoring; (v) effective institutional mechanisms especially strong subregional secretariats needed to sustain cooperation efforts; (vi) government officials need to build capacities for effective implementation of RCI initiatives; and (vii) promote linkages and synergies between and among subregions in ASEAN.

To provide value-adding support to both programs, it is critical to address challenges that hamper their effectiveness as they implement the BEV 2025, IMT-GT Vision 2036, and IMT-GT IB 2017 2021. The new strategic documents included pipeline(s) of projects with priority infrastructure projects amounting to $21.4 billion for BIMP-EAGA and $48.4 billion for IMT-GT aimed at enhancing connectivity in Southeast Asia. Effective functioning of the two subregions are hampered by: (i) weak strategic and institutional links and coordination with ASEAN; (ii) lack of well-designed RCI projects and weak results monitoring; and (iii) limited capacities of government officials to develop and implement RCI policies, programs and projects.

FOR OUTPUT 2:

The TA is supporting the additional activities to complete the GCAP for Kota Kinabalu. Experts from ICLEI will conduct further consultations with government officials in Kota Kinabalu. During the BIMP-EAGA Strategic Planning Meeting in February 2019, the TA also committed to support the preparation of GCAP for one key city in the Philippines.

Preparation of the concept for the study on collaborative approach to special economic zones (SEZs) development and cooperation in BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT is underway. This study was presented in the Strategic Planning Meeting of both BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT. The countries have expressed their supportt for the SEZ Study and committed to designate country focal points to assist in data-gathering and conduct of country consultations from June to August 2019.

The TA is also supporting the updating of the Malaysia-Thailand Special Border Economic Zone study in response to the request of these countries. An ongoing assessment on the developments both on Thailand and Malaysia side is being conducted by a SBEZ Specialist.

ADB is also currently preparing a concept note for the review of existing IMT-GT economic corridors and possibility of sixth corridor.

FOR OUTPUT 3:

The list of trainings conducted as of end March 2019:

Workshop on International Standard of Procurement Policy and Implementation

11 13 February 2019, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Value Management in Projects Workshop

27-28 February 2019, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as Catalysts for Economic Corridors, Value Chains and Production Networks Training

25-29 March 2019, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

OTHERS:

The TA is supporting the preparation of a 25th BIMP-EAGA anniversary video to be shown at the Summit in June 2019. Also, the TA is funding an animated video to showcased the GCAP for Kota Kinabalu.

ADB is also supporting the BIMP-EAGA agriculture and tourism clusters and working groups in publishing and printing of the Compilation of Sustainable Ecotourism, Agriculture and Fishing Case Studies in BIMP-EAGA.

ADB participated in the Strategic Planning Meetings of BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT, providing technical support as well as assisting the BIMP-FC during the meeting.