ADB, Netherlands Grant Support For Mekong Environment

ADB and the Government of Netherlands recently exchanged documents formalizing the US$14 million Dutch financial support to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Core Environment Program (CEP), and its flagship component, the Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (BCI).

All parties called on the GMS countries and partners in the development community to join in the effort to safeguard livelihoods and economic development by halting and reversing the accelerating pace of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation in the subregion.

The Dutch co-funding (others are the Government of Sweden, the Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund from the Government of the United Kingdom, and ADB) will specifically support the implementation of the BCI’s first phase over the next three years. The Netherlands already supports the forestry and water sectors, as well as the health sector in Viet Nam, and increasingly puts more importance to regional, transboundary issues.

ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. In 2005, it approved loans and grants for projects totaling US$6.95 billion, and technical assistance amounting to US$198.8 million.
L.A