Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its watchers (Burma/Myanmar)
Websites/Multiple Documents
| Title: | | ADB Myanmar page |
| Date of publication: | | 15 September 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | Many links from this page |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 April 2012 |
|
| Title: | | ADB projects in Myanmar |
| Description/subject: | | Project records contain Project Data Sheets (summary information on projects or programs), project and evaluation documents, business opportunities and other information. See the Project FAQs. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 November 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar Tourism Master Plan |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) 46271-001: |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 November 2012 |
|
| Title: | | NGO Forum on ADB |
| Description/subject: | | Not much specifically on Burma/Myanmar. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | NGO Forum on ADB |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
|
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Asian Development Outlook 2013 -Asia’s Energy Challenge (Myanmar section) |
| Date of publication: | | 09 April 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | "Policy reforms stimulated economic growth last year and are expected to drive further development
during the forecast period. Inflation is projected to remain moderate. Improved economic prospects
have sparked a surge of interest from foreign investors. Achieving the country’s potential depends on
maintaining momentum on the government’s reform agenda..."...N.B. there is a lot of material on Myanmar, e.g. in the statistics, not included in the Myanmar pages |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (541K-Myanmar section; 7.9MB-full report) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/pub/2013/ado-2013.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 10 April 2013 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar’s Trade and its Potential |
| Date of publication: | | January 2013 |
| Description/subject: | | Abstract: "The paper tabulates Myanmar’s merchandise trade as reported by its partner
countries, thereby circumventing the data constraints stemming from Myanmar’s
patchy trade records. It then estimates Myanmar’s export potential, based on the
bilateral export patterns observed for six other countries in Southeast Asia.
Against that benchmark and controlling for outliers, Myanmar is found to be
trading at about 15% its potential. The bulk of this gap is explained by very low
trade with the industrialized countries. Through reintegration with the world
economy accompanied by deep economic re
forms domestically, Myanmar would
be expected to be closing this gap rather swiftly."...
Keywords: Myanmar, gravity model, export potential |
| Author/creator: | | Benno Ferrarini |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) ADB Economics Working Paper SeriesNo. 325 |
| Format/size: | | pdf (1MB-original; 836K-OBL version) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs15/Myanmar%27s%20Trade%20and%20its%20Potential%20-%20ewp-325-red.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 09 April 2013 |
|
| Title: | | ADB, Norway to Help Myanmar Manage Tourist Boom |
| Date of publication: | | 11 October 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Norway will help Myanmar cope with an exploding tourism sector with a $225,000 grant designed to generate a sustainable tourism master plan.
“Myanmar is undergoing a period of dramatic change, and the skyrocketing number of tourists visiting the country is already putting existing tourism infrastructure under enormous strain,” said Putu Kamayana, Head of ADB’s Extended Mission in Myanmar. “To ensure benefits of the burgeoning tourism industry are sustainable and extend to more of Myanmar’s people, the country needs a comprehensive plan that respects culture and the environment.” |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 November 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Energy Sector Initial Assessment |
| Date of publication: | | October 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | Description:
In order to have a better understanding of Myanmar’s energy sector, an ADB mission visited Myanmar from 20 through 30 September 2011. The information and findings gathered during the mission served in drafting an initial assessment of the sector. Subsequently, the assessment has been updated to reflect the findings of follow-up ADB missions and consultations with the government...
The Report:
Clearly, strengthening Myanmar’s energy sector is critical to reducing poverty and enhancing the medium and long-term development prospects of the country. Electrification is an urgent requirement, without which whole areas of the country will be severely hampered in their efforts to advance economically. Social progress also depends on electrification, without which health, education, and other essential services inevitably suffer. There are many dimensions to the sector and they must be addressed comprehensively and systematically so as to ensure efficient and effective use of resources. While electrification, especially of rural areas, is of primary concern, issues of sustainability and protection of the environment must be considered simultaneously...
Conclusions:
Drawing from this initial assessment of the energy sector, but with the caveat that a comprehensive assessment is needed, Myanmar’s development partners—in consultation with the government—could begin considering support for the sector by focusing on several apparent priorities including: |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (4.16MB) html (Summary) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.adb.org/documents/myanmar-energy-sector-initial-assessment |
| Date of entry/update: | | 27 November 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Bank Interim Country Partnership Strategy: Myanmar, 2012-2014 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS (SUMMARY) |
| Date of publication: | | September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | I. INTRODUCTION:
1. "This sector assessment (summary) provides the background to the identification of
issues, constraints, and threats to, as well as the government’s priority reforms in support of
fiscal sustainability, macroeconomic stability and public finance. It focuses on key cross-cutting
strategic issues such as macroeconomic institutions and monetary policy, tax policy and
administration, and public financial management. This assessment draws on the sector
assessment for Macroeconomic Assessment and ongoing ADB diagnostic work"...
II. SECTOR ASSESSMENT: CONTEXT AND STRATEGIC ISSUES -
A. Context:
Economic growth; Macroeconomic instability; Fiscal policy...B. Strategic Issues - Fiscal Policy; Lifting priority spending through further tax revenue effort - (i) Sources of revenues are limited; (ii) The tax structure is complicated; (iii) Tax administration is weak; 9. Medium-term sustainable priority spending requires improving efficiency in public
expenditure management; Public Debt Sustainability; A key medium term policy reform to support fiscal sustainability will be public
debt management; Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy...III. GOVERNMENT’S SECTOR POLICY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK... |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (49K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs14/mya-interim-economy.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 28 September 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Bank Interim Country Partnership Strategy: Myanmar, 2012-2014 ECONOMIC REFORM (SUMMARY) |
| Date of publication: | | September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | I. INTRODUCTION:
"This economic reform assessment (summary) provides the background to the
identification of issues, constraints, and threats to, as well as the government’s priority reforms
in support of achieving inclusive growth. It focuses on key cross-cutting strategic issues such as
business climate reforms, trade policy liberalization, measures to improve trade facilitation, and
financial sector development. It also touches on the need to implement structural policy reforms
on a sector-by-sector basis."...II. CONTEXT AND STRATEGIC ISSUES: Context; Economic growth performance has been mixed; Structural transformation of the economy has been relatively slow; Long term economic growth has been relatively low; Macroeconomic effects of the resource sector on the non-resource sector; Limited trade integration with global markets; Low investment rate; Underdeveloped financial sector...B. Strategic issues: While the Government has initiated steps towards a more market economy for private
sector to grow and develop, much more needs to be done to improve the environment for
private sector development. At the macroeconomic level the challenge will be to manage the
potentially adverse effects of the resource boom on the competitiveness of the non-resource
sector. At the microeconomic level the challenge will be to advance reforms to reduce
transaction costs of doing business and creating a level playing field between firms, or a
competitive neutral policy environment. This will need to be done through addressing the
complex business licensing system, trade liberalization, measures to improve trade facilitation,
promoting competition in domestic markets, and SME access to business development services
and technology, credit, and skilled labor, and strengthening the institutional framework for SME
policy making; Managing the impact of the resource boom on the growth and development of the
non-resource sector; Business climate reforms; Institutionalizing regulatory review processes; Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) development; Restrictive trade policy and inefficient trade facilitation; Competition policy; State economic enterprises (SEE) reform; Financial sector development...III. GOVERNMENT’S SECTOR POLICY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK...IV. ADB’S SECTOR EXPERIENCE AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (60K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs14/mya-interim-economic_reform.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 28 September 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar: Interim Country Partnership Strategy 2012-2014 (Draft Documents for Consultation) |
| Date of publication: | | September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | Description:
"In response to ongoing major reform moves by the Government of Myanmar, ADB is now preparing a re-engagement strategy (interim country partnership strategy), which will guide our approach towards full resumption of operations. The interim strategy provides the framework for rapid reengagement, while affording the space required for further analytical work, capacity building, policy dialogue, and broad-based consultations with all development stakeholders, leading to a fully-fledged country partnership strategy. The interim strategy, as summarized in the consultation draft, is informed by ADB's initial economic and sector assessments on Myanmar, as well as consultations with the country's government, development partners, civil society, and the business community during the period June to August 2012. The proposed interim strategy envisions a highly consultative process to form the basis of the ensuing full country partnership strategy.
The documents provided on this page are drafts for consultation purposes. Comments on the draft are most welcome. Email contact...."
Linked Document(s):
Sector Assessment (Summary): Agriculture and Natural Resources...
Sector Assessment (Summary): Energy...
Sector Assessment (Summary): Transport...
Sector Assessment (Summary): Urban Development and Water Sector...
Economic Analysis (Summary)...
Poverty Analysis (Summary)...
Gender Analysis (Summary)...
Environment Assessment (Summary)...
Regional Cooperation and Integration (Summary)...
Economic Reform (Summary)...
Initial Assessment (Summary): Post-Primary Education. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | html. pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 September 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar in Transition: Opportunities and Challenges |
| Date of publication: | | 20 August 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "Myanmar, which is emerging from decades of isolation, is poised to accelerate its economic
growth on the back of its abundant labor force, rich natural resources, and geographical
location. But the country faces many development challenges to achieve strong and inclusive
growth. To take advantage of its rich potential and endowments, Myanmar can also use its
strategic location between the People’s Republic of China and India, and act as a conduit
between South and Southeast Asia.
In order to sustain its growth momentum in the long run, Myanmar should aim for a
growth trajectory that is inclusive, equitable, and environmentally sustainable. This special
report assesses the country’s strengths and weaknesses and highlights the challenges and risks.
The key lies in prioritizing the actions to surmount the challenges and introducing the requisite
reforms."...Executive summary: "...The course of Myanmar’s future growth can be guided by three complementary development
strategies: regional integration, inclusiveness, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, given
the myriad challenges the country faces and the limited resources at its disposal, the interventions can be prioritized and reforms sequenced for the maximum benefits.
Key development agendas include the following:
• Provide macroeconomic stability. A stable macro environment provides a foundation for investment and long-term growth. Key elements of sound macroeconomic policy include low and stable inflation; a sustainable fiscal position; and a flexible, market-based exchange rate....
• Mobilize resources for investment. Increased domestic and foreign savings are critical to meeting the enormous requirements of the private and public sectors. In addition, higher government revenues (e.g., taxation] and more efficient financial intermediation will also help to provide sustainable financing for development....
• Improve infrastructure and human capital. The removal of structural impediments in the key areas of education, health, and infrastructure can provide a basis for human capital development and improve connectivity....
• Diversify into industry and services, while improving agriculture. Broadening the economic base beyond primary industries can raise productivity and value addition. Yet agriculture, fisheries, and resource industries are not to be neglected as they contain considerable potential for expansion....
• Reduce the state’s role in production. A further reduction in the government's ownership and control of productive activities can help spur competition and increase investment by creating a level playing field....
• Strengthen government institutions. Economic transformation can be supported by effective government institutions, although building institutions and their capacity may take time. Attention might focus on nurturing administrative and regulatory systems; managing resources; and, most importantly, enhancing the capabilities of government personnel throughout the system. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (1.2MB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs14/myanmar-in-transition.pdf
http://www.adb.org/countries/myanmar/videos/189162 (video) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 August 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2012 + Myanmar statistics |
| Date of publication: | | August 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | The Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2012 (Key Indicators), the 43rd edition of this series, includes the latest available economic, financial, social, and environmental indicators for the 48 regional members of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This publication aims to present the latest key statistics on development issues concerning the economies of Asia and the Pacific to a wide audience, including policy makers, development practitioners, government officials, researchers, students, and the general public. Part I of this issue of the Key Indicators is a special chapter—Green Urbanization in Asia. Parts II and III comprise of brief, non-technical analyses and statistical tables on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and seven other themes. This year, the second edition of the Framework of Inclusive Growth Indicators, a special supplement to Key Indicators is also included.
The statistical tables in this issue of the Key Indicators may also be downloaded in MS Excel format from this website or in user-specified format at SDBS Online. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf, Xcel |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/ki/2012/pdf/MYA.pdf (Myanmar statistics) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 21 August 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Outlook 2012 - Myanmar section |
| Date of publication: | | 11 April 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "Economic growth picked up in FY2011, based largely on foreign investment in energy and exports of
commodities and natural gas. That trend is forecast to continue, assisted by policy reforms and higher gas
exports in 2013. Inflation is expected to quicken, after receding in 2011. The government has taken steps
to revitalize the economy, but the agenda of required reforms is long..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (109K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.adb.org/publications/asian-development-outlook-2012-confronting-rising-inequality-asia |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 April 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar's Economic Outlook Improving but Broad Reforms Still Needed |
| Date of publication: | | 11 April 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | ADB administration and governance; Economics...MANILA, PHILIPPINES – "Myanmar is poised for a period of rising economic growth, but the country needs to embark on a comprehensive program of reforms to realize its potential and reduce widespread poverty, according to a forecast of the country’s growth, contained in a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB)..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 April 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Bank & Myanmar FACT SHEET |
| Date of publication: | | 31 December 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | "Myanmar joined the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 1973, but it has not received
direct assistance in more than 20 years. ADB’s last loan and technical assistance
projects for Myanmar were approved in 1986 and 1987, respectively. ADB continues to
monitor economic developments in Myanmar, and will formulate an operational strategy
when appropriate.
Myanmar is a participating member of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic
Cooperation Program (GMS Program), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN). Myanmar participates in regional meetings and workshops
along with other GMS and ASEAN member countries.
ADB has maintained close coordination with the International Monetary Fund, the
World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme, with an emphasis on
assessing the government’s economic reform program and recommended policy
actions. ADB liaises with Myanmar’s major bilateral donors regarding the status of their
assistance programs.
ADB cooperates with civil society organizations to strengthen the effectiveness,
quality, and sustainability of the services it provides. To this end, ADB regularly shares
its experiences and expertise with international nongovernment organizations that are
undertaking development activities in Myanmar..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (175K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 28 November 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Outlook 2011 - Myanmar section |
| Date of publication: | | April 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | "Economic growth edged up over the past 2 years, accompanied by relatively modest inflation. The
economy is expected to grow moderately over the forecast period, supported by foreign investment in
construction and higher levels of credit to agriculture. The government that took office in March 2011
faces an extensive agenda of reforms if the country is to reach its potential..." |
| Author/creator: | | Alfredo Perdiguero |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (323K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.adb.org/publications/asian-development-outlook-2011-south-south-economic-links |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 April 2012 |
|
| Title: | | The ADB in Burma: Behind the Scenes |
| Date of publication: | | April 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | CONCLUSION:
Burma still lacks sound economic policy, and the state is unwilling to reconcile
with ethnic armed groups. Foreign direct investment in Burma is concentrated
in energy and extractive sectors and often results in militarization, displacement
and human rights abuses in ethnic areas. The facilitation and mobilization of
private investment is having and will continue to have a major impact on the
environment and communities, particularly in ethnic areas where the majority
of natural resources remain. Current foreign investment is not reducing
poverty but reinforcing the current power structures, and the vast majority of
citizens in Burma are excluded from the benefits of development.
Until the people of Burma can meaningfully participate in development
decisions, preconditions for responsible investment are in place, and adverse
impacts can be mitigated, then the ADB should refrain from any form of new
engagement with Burma. If they do engage (i.e., fund, facilitate, administer)
in Burma, the ADB must follow the International Financial Corporation’s
‘Sustainability Framework,’ and adhere to their own environmental and
social safeguard policies, including safeguards on Involuntary Resettlement,
Environment and Indigenous People, as well as the ADB’s Accountability
Mechanism and Public Communications Policy...
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Until the people of Burma can meaningfully participate in development
decisions, preconditions for responsible investment are in place, and adverse
impacts can be mitigated, then the ADB should refrain from any form of new
engagement with Burma.
If they do engage (i.e., fund, facilitate, administer) in Burma, the ADB must
follow the International Financial Corporation’s ‘Sustainability Framework,’,
and adhere to apply their own environmental and social safeguard policies,
when they do engage, including safeguards on Involuntary Resettlement,
Environment and Indigenous People, as well as the ADB’s Accountability
Mechanism and Public Communications Policy.
If the ADB is involved in any future national development planning for
Burma, they must make sure it is based on proper needs assessments and a
participatory consultation process which ensures that it furthers the interest
of the people. |
| Author/creator: | | S. Bourne |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | NGO Forum on ADB |
| Format/size: | | pdf (1.3MB-OBL version; 1.52MB-original) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.forum-adb.org/docs/ADB-and-Burma.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 June 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Critical Approaches to Risk Under Authoritarian Regimes: The Asian Development Bank and the Greater Mekong Subregion |
| Date of publication: | | 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | ABSTRACT:
"Multilateral
development
banks
and
the
Asian
Development
Bank
(ADB)
in
particular,
have
not
provided
direct
assistance
to
Myanmar
(Burma)
since
the
mid-1980s,
largely
as
a
concession
to
global
disapprobation
of
its
ruling
military
regime.
Through
its
Greater
Mekong
Subregion
(GMS)
project,
however,
the
ADB
still
provides
indirect
assistance
to
Myanmar
and
direct
assistance
to
the
authoritarian
single
party
states
of
Laos
and
Vietnam.
The
aim
of
the
GMS
East-West
Economic
Corridor
(EWEC)
is
to
facilitate
trade
and
investment
across
the
GMS
but
the
Myanmar
leg
of
the
road
corridor,
from
Mawlamyine
(Moulmein)
to
the
Thai
border
at
Myawaddy,
traverses
Karen
State,
which
has
been
fraught
with
civil
conflict
since
1948.
The
ruling
military
regime
along
with
its
allies,
the
Democratic
Karen
Buddhist
Army
(DKBA),
nominally
controls
this
route
but
in
mid-2010
there
were
serious
defections
from
the
DKBA
to
the
opposition
Karen
National
Liberation
Army
(KNLA)
over
the
military
regime’s
Border
Guard
Force
(BGF)
leading
to
increased
tension
in
the
area.
The
regime
then
closed
the
border
at
Myawaddy,
ostensibly
over
a
dispute
with
Thailand
but
more
likely
due
to
domestic
political
concerns,
resulting
in
a
large
build-up
of
goods
on
both
sides
of
the
border.
The
risks
of
greater
civil
conflict
in
this
region
are
exacerbated
by
the
revenue
raising
opportunities
that
various
competing
groups
can
derive
from
increased
border
trade
while
the
risks
of
forced
labour
are
ubiquitous
for
major
development
projects
in
Myanmar.
The
ADB
acknowledges
that
the
early
stages
of
the
EWEC
will
be
funded
by
public
sources
but
it
clearly
sees
its
role
as
guarantor
of
long-term
stability
for
the
project
to
minimise
the
risks
faced
by
private
investment.
The
very
nature
of
the
project
itself,
however,
which
ignores
domestic
political
issues,
is
likely
to
result
in
heightened
risks
of
insecurity
for
the
oppressed
ethnic
minorities
who
inhabit
the
region." |
| Author/creator: | | Dr Adam Simpson |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. |
| Format/size: | | pdf (2.74MB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NATBMA_WP1103.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 July 2011 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Outlook 2008 -- Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | March 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "Modest rates of growth in recent years have been based on high prices for natural gas exports, heavy
public expenditures, and an improving agricultural performance. However, macroeconomic stability is
vulnerable to fiscal deficits that are financed through money creation, in turn prompting double-digit
inflation. The Government has taken tentative steps toward a more market-oriented system in agriculture
and finance, and should build on these reforms." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (122K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/ADO/2008/ |
| Date of entry/update: | | 02 April 2008 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Outlook 2007 -- Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | March 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | "High prices for natural gas exports and a good harvest led to a modest pickup in economic activity. But macroeconomic stability remains elusive with monetized fiscal deficits feeding high inflation. The cushion provided by the gas exports makes now an opportune time to embark on structural reforms, including exchange rate unification, fiscal consolidation, and agricultural liberalization, and to redirect public spending to development of social and physical infrastructure..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bangk (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 27 November 2007 |
|
| Title: | | POSITION PAPER ON THE INCLUSION OF BURMA IN ADB’S GMS PROJECTS |
| Date of publication: | | 26 July 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | "The NCUB’s position is that the ADB should exclude Burma from all GMS projects until Burma is ruled by a government that is committed to the principles of transparency, accountability, public participation in decision-making processes, and independent monitoring.
Briefly, NCUB’s position is based on the following grounds:..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) |
| Format/size: | | html (65K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 05 October 2004 |
|
| Title: | | The Multilateral Banks and Burma |
| Date of publication: | | April 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Asian Development Bank has quietly started providing modest assistance to Rangoon. Is more to follow?...
On April 8, 2004 Mitch McConnell, a prominent American senator from Kentucky with an interest in the Burma debate, expressed concerns over multilateral assistance to Burma and threatened to cut US funding to institutions that might provide such assistance.
At a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, he stated: “Unfortunately, I am hearing that international financial institutions—particularly the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank—are keen on re-engaging Burma. They do so at their own risks, and should begin finding other funding sources for the upcoming fiscal year because none will be forthcoming from this Subcommittee.”
Senator McConnell’s statement reflects the unease shared by many in the Burma democracy movement about multilateral assistance going to Rangoon, which has a poor track record regarding transparency and public participation in development projects and has been accused of a range of human rights abuses.
So what exactly are the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, or ADB, doing with respect to Burma? As yet the numbers are small, but imply an effort to renew assistance..." |
| Author/creator: | | Yuki Akimoto |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 12, No. 4, April 2004 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 22 July 2004 |
|
| Title: | | Marketing the Mekong: the Asian Development Bank and the Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation Program |
| Date of publication: | | 12 December 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | Shortcomings of economic cooperation in the Greater Mekong...The Greater Mekong Subregion:
A Regional Fantasy...
The document critically examines the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation (GMS) Programme, which was initiated by the Asian Development Bank in 1992 to boost economic development in the resource rich region. It outlines the main features of the programme and highlights the shortcomings and problem of the GMS:
* the centrality of natural resource exploitation (water, land, forests, energy, minerals, fisheries) results in the large-scale expropriation of resources crucial to daily sustenance
* the distribution of benefits is uneven since participating countries have differing levels of development and capacity (i.e. what does the Lao PDR gain from the East-West Corridor?)
* internal disparities within participating countries are widened because of pockets of high capital and infrastructure investment in specific parts of countries, which can result in tensions and conflicts between national and local government, and between the government and the people
* the vision of development promoted through the GMS serves regional investment, and not national or local development priorities: projects are formulated based on their potential for profits for investors rather than on their potential to respond to social, economic, ecological or institutional needs among local and national communities
* GMS projects have already resulted in negative impacts on local communities through road and hydropower projects, impacts include displacement of families, loss of livelihood sources, loss of lands, among others
* in the GMS framework, the rights of investors are protected, but the rights of local people and communities are not
* local-national communities outside of governments and private sector have not been involved in drawing up GMS plans
* the financing of GMS projects have tremendous debt implications for participating countries: new forms of project financing are creating new forms of debt and financial liabilities
* governments play conflicting roles as owners, investors and regulators in public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects
* GMS projects facilitate the transfer of local-national wealth to private actors external to the Mekong region. |
| Author/creator: | | Shalmali Guttal |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Focus on the Global South |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 25 January 2005 |
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| Title: | | Verbrannte Erde und Überflutungen: Staudammprojekte am Salween in Burma |
| Date of publication: | | October 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | Ein Artikel über die Aktivitäten der ADB in Burma, Staudammprojekte am Salween, Umweltkatastrophen, ölkologische Folgen der Staudammprojekte.
activities of the ADB concerning Burma; environmental, ecological and sicial consequences of dam-projects |
| Author/creator: | | Daniel Apolinarski |
| Language: | | Deutsch, German |
| Source/publisher: | | Burma Initiative Asienhaus |
| Format/size: | | pdf (99K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 05 December 2003 |
|
| Title: | | Status of Burma at the MDBs (Multilateral Development Banks) |
| Date of publication: | | 15 July 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | Burma in the Asian Development Bank; Burma in the World Bank Group; Non-accrual status; Burma in the International Monetary Fund; U.S. and E.U. sanctions on Burma - provisions on MDB assistance; Resources, Links etc...
Background:
"Most foreign aid to Burma, both bilateral and multilateral, ceased in the wake of the violent crackdown on the popular democracy movement in 1988. The United States and the European Union impose economic sanctions, which prohibit most bilateral aid from the U.S. and Europe, as well as support for multilateral development assistance to Burma (see box "U.S. and E.U. sanctions on Burma"). Burma also has not been involved in any new lending programs from the multilateral development banks since 1988-89... |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Burma Project,, Bank Information Center |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 July 2003 |
|
| Title: | | ADB Annual Report 2002: Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 24 June 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | "Official data indicate that GDP in Myanmar grew by 11.1% in fiscal year (FY)2001 (ending 31 March 2002) in part because of rapid growth in agriculture, livestock and fisheries, and the processing and manufacturing sectors. Inflation accelerated to 56.8% by the end of 2002. The fiscal deficit narrowed from 8.4% in FY2000 to 6.6% of GDP in FY2001. The deficit was financed largely through central bank credit. The kyat depreciated in FY2001 by about 70% relative to its value at the start of the year. The overall balance-of-payments position was in surplus by kyat 1,733.2 million; the current account was at a deficit by kyat 844.8 million in FY2001. Capital inflows in FY2001 were low, and international reserves covered about 2.3 months of imports.
ADB operations..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 June 2003 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Outlook 2003: Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | Asian Development Outlook 2003 : II. Economic Trends and Prospects in Developing Asia : Southeast Asia
Myanmar...
Growth in FY2001 was recorded at 11.1%. However, there are reasons to be concerned about prospects. Macroeconomic imbalances persist, and there are growing signs of problems at a structural level. The country faces a complex development agenda. In the short run, priority should be given to reducing fiscal deficits and realigning expenditure priorities. Agricultural liberalization offers potentially large benefits....Outlook for 2003-2004:
The Government has targeted 6% GDP growth over the latest 5-year planning period. However, the immediate prospects for fast economic expansion are uncertain. Widespread flooding in 2002 is likely to have had an adverse impact on agricultural activity, which still accounts for over 40% of GDP. Also, yields of important agricultural crops have fallen recently against a backdrop of shortages of imported fertilizers and other inputs. Political and economic sanctions limit prospects for exports and FDI, and any significant easing of foreign exchange constraints is unlikely in the near future.
Over the medium term, the prospects for growth will, of course, depend crucially on policy choices. If macroeconomic imbalances and structural distortions persist, growth will undoubtedly suffer. If, however, a credible and sustained effort at reform were to begin, the prospects for sustainable economic expansion and poverty reduction would be good." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 27 January 2004 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Outlook 2002 Update |
| Date of publication: | | 18 September 2002 |
| Description/subject: | | "The 2002-2003 economic outlook for developing Asia and the Pacific has not changed significantly since the Asian Development Outlook 2002 was published in April 2002. However, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia had a stronger than expected performance in the first half of 2002, while South Asia and the Pacific had weaker than expected performance..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank |
| Format/size: | | pdf (2.5MB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/ADO/2002/Update/southeast_asia.pdf (SE Asia section, pdf (500K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Outlook 2002 |
| Date of publication: | | 09 April 2002 |
| Description/subject: | | Economic Trends and prospects in developing Asia. Contains a 2 page section on Burma/Myanmar. "This 14th edition of the Asian Development Outlook provides a comprehensive
analysis of 41 economies in Asia and the Pacific, based on the Asian Development
Banks in-depth knowledge of the region. For the first time, the Outlook includes a
section on Afghanistan. It also provides a broad diagnosis of macroeconomic
conditions and growth prospects as they relate to progress in poverty reduction in
the economies of the region..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | PDF (629K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/ADO/2002/mya.asp (Myanmar section, html) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Bank Economic Update: Myanmar. November 2001 |
| Date of publication: | | November 2001 |
| Description/subject: | | "...in a context of slowing growth and stiffening sanctions on trade and investment flows, reform efforts began to stall in the second half of the 1990s and some reversals took place. Despite a spurt in economic growth in 1999/2000 , which was largely a consequence of
a bumper agricultural crop, Myanmars prospects for growth over the medium term are
constrained by growing macroeconomic imbalances and impediments to structural adjustment.
However, prospects could be improved if Myanmar were to recommence reforms and undertake
needed adjustments. Ultimately, poverty reduction and broader improvements in the quality of
life will rest on policy and institutional frameworks that serve to promote durable and equitable
growth. Official development assistance could have an important role in serving these objectives
and meeting Myanmars still considerable development needs. However, should international
financial institutions be in a position to resume assistance to Myanmar, its impact would be
greatly enhanced by advanced measures to improve the policy environment..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | PDF (32K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
|
| Title: | | Asian Development Bank, Country Assistance Plan 2001-2003: Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | December 2000 |
| Description/subject: | | Economic Performance Assessment; Assessment of Social Performance. Country operations:
"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) undertook the preparation of an operational strategy study for Myanmar in 1987, but discussions with the Government were not completed.
As of December 1998, cumulative lending to Myanmar consists of 28 loan projects for a total of $530.9 million and 38 technical assistance projects for a total of $10.7 million. No loan has been provided to Myanmar since 1986 and no technical assistance since 1987. All 32 loans approved
prior to 1986 were closed by end-1998. However, Myanmar is involved in the Program of Economic Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS Program). In that capacity,
Myanmar participates in regional meetings and workshops supported by ADB's regional technical assistance. To keep ADB's institutional knowledge up-to-date with regard to socio-economic developments, ADB has continued to review developments in economic policies and programs to the extent possible, based on the data available. In this regard, the 1995 Economic Report on Myanmar will be updated in 2000.
Donor Activities, Aid Coordination and Cofinancing:
Since 1988-89, Myanmar has not received any new lending programs from the multilateral institutions. However, it has received loans from the Peoples Republic of China,
Thailand, India, Singapore, and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. In addition, Myanmar has received Debt Relief Grant from Japan, especially since 1988. Japan is also extending grants to the agriculture, forestry, and health sectors, grass root projects, and the Yangon International Airport Project. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) continues to conduct its Article IV consultations annually with the last one having been held in June 1999.
Although ADB's operations have not yet resumed, ADB has maintained contact with other donors to exchange information on respective activities in Myanmar. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | PDF (253K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
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