Multilateral development assistance

The World Bank is optimistic about economic growth in Laos, which is projected to rebound to 6.5 per cent in 2019, rising from 6.3 per cent recorded last year.  Despite continued fiscal tightening, the pickup is expected to be driven by robust investment in mega infrastructure ...

The Lancang-Mekong Youth Exchange and Cooperation Center was inaugurated in Shanghai Monday, with eight universities from China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam signing a memorandum. The center aims to enhance youth exchanges, cooperation and development among the six countries and will focus on projects of ...

A conference was held in the northern province of Bac Kan on July 17 to connect ethnic minority women with partners under a programme supporting them to develop economic activities via Industry 4.0 technology. The programme, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will enable ...

The recent media report on the Mekong River which contained false accusations against China ignores the joint efforts made by China, Thailand and other relevant parties to promote cooperation on Mekong water resources for the benefit of the people in the region. These accusations mislead ...

Local residents and environmentalists spent the weekend having a hot debate with the Chinese Embassy about Beijing’s utilisation and management of the Mekong River.  While the embassy accused Thai media of spreading false information on China’s development projects in Southeast Asia’s longest rivers, the Thai Mekong ...

The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), today launched a new project to support Thailand in making progress on its commitments under the Paris Agreement, the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs. The ...

Development partners on Thursday asked the Mekong River Commission to prioritise policies to protect the basin in future development strategies, noting that the Mekong river basin is among the most vulnerable regions due to climate change. Representatives from European Union, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, ...

To sustain economic growth, Myanmar needs to invest up to US$2 billion (3.06 trillion kyats) annually in its electricity sector, according to a World Bank report released on Tuesday. In the report, “Myanmar Economic Monitor: Building Reform Momentum”, the World Bank said Myanmar’s economic growth is ...

Foreign investors should distance themselves from hotel projects being developed around the ancient temples of Bagan in apparent violation of planning rules. It now seems likely that the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will approve Myanmar’s application to have Bagan ...

With more people moving to Yangon and other key destinations for better opportunities, the World Bank has warned of the challenges related to urbanisation in Myanmar at the launch of its latest report on Thursday. Judy Baker, lead economist for social, urban, rural and resilient global ...