Bhutan, in 2040, will be very different from what it is today. The transport system then needs to respond to the changing needs and demands. The Transport Integrated Strategic Vision 2040 incorporates all existing transport related plans, policies, initiatives, and actions to create a long-term...

This project study was initiated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy. Its objective is to identify areas for improvement in the administration and application of sanitary and phytosanitary...

This policy brief aims to inform policy makers in the Government of Viet Nam and development partners involved in developing the water and irrigation subsector about the irrigation service fee waiver and related issues. This is intended to stimulate debate and plan for rational solutions to...

This report reviews Kazakhstan’s progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, and focuses particularly on gender issues in the Asian Development Bank’s operations in transport, urban development, and support for entrepreneurship. Since the previous assessment in 2006,...

Aid for Trade (AfT) came to prominence just over a decade ago at the launch of the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round. With its focus on helping least developed countries and economies escape the poverty trap, it aims to strengthen their capabilities to meet market demand and to reduce...

Railways are essential for the development and diversification of Mongolia’s economy. The Government of Mongolia recognizes that structural changes will be required to improve the efficiency of the rail sector and to provide incentives for private sector investment. A key step toward rail...

This publication reviews recent developments in East Asian local currency bond markets along with the outlook, risks, and policy options. It covers the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and the Republic of Korea.

This report summarizes key results from a 2012 survey of businesses in Papua New Guinea. It compares the results with the 2002 and 2007 surveys and shows that, while the business environment has improved since 2002, doing business in Papua New Guinea remains extremely challenging. Continued...

The Operational Plan for Integrated Disaster Risk Management, 2014–2020 seeks to strengthen disaster resilience in the developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The operational plan has three key objectives toward this intended outcome: (i) to promote an integrated...

The inadequate water supply and sanitation situation in South Tarawa has contributed to high rates of water-borne diseases and environmental degradation in the country’s main urban center. There has been limited capital investment in water supply and sanitation infrastructure and ongoing...