Thailand is on track to welcome 36 million international visitors in 2024, according to the Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch). This forecast is based on the robust performance in the early months of the year, which marked a notable 50% increase in foreign arrivals, totaling 6.4 million in January and February.
Electric vehicle adoption into the public transport sector is apowerful game changer that can help to cut emissions at densely populated urban centres right across the region.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and BANPU Public Company Limited signed a 2.4 billion baht loan to support the financing of 1,500 six-seater electric tuktuks (e-tuktuks) and related charging stations for micro-scale transit services in Bangkok, Thailand.
The main water control facility of the Damnak Chheukrom Mega Irrigation System in Pursat, Cambodia. Photo: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology via ADB
The Greater Mekong Subregion Flood and Drought Risk Management and Mitigation Project was approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in December 2012 to support the Government of Cambodia in undertaking measures to prepare for and manage disaster risks linked to floods and droughts. Completed in February 2022, the project supported the rehabilitation of the Damnak Chheukrom Mega Irrigation System.
The GMs Energy Transition Task Force (ETTF) met in Siem Reap on 4-5 December 2023 to discuss updates and plans related to its work streams, including trends, opportunities and related initiatives in the region.
The meeting agreed on these next steps for 2024.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will support the sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development of Luang Prabang, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), with financing worth $35 million via a concessional loan and a $10 million grant. The project is set to (i) improve the quality and coverage of urban infrastructure and services, (ii) strengthen institutions and capacity to foster climate and disaster resilient development pathways, (iii) promote inclusive and gender-responsive urban planning, and (iv) enhance women's leadership and economic empowerment. The Government of Lao PDR will complement the financing with in-kind contributions to support counterpart salaries and office facilities
During the period 2017–2020, extended to 2023, ADB operations in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) focused on (i) improving physical connectivity to catalyze private sector investment in the economy to generate employment and income, (ii) developing skills that support growth in the non-resource sectors and improving access to health services to enhance labor productivity, and (iii) ensuring sustainable natural resource management and climate resilience. Gender equity and governance were crosscutting themes.
ADB will support the development and operation of solar photovoltaic systems located on the rooftops of commercial and industrial businesses across Viet Nam. Photo courtesy of GreenYellow.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and GreenYellow Smart Solutions Vietnam Co., Ltd. (GreenYellow), have signed a loan agreement of up to $13.8 million for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar systems to help increase the supply of clean and affordable energy for commercial and industrial consumers in Viet Nam.
ADB's #SheExport Accelerator program has made a significant impact on Green Joy, a female-owned business based in Viet Nam specializing in crafting eco-friendly products made from grey sedge grass, which grows naturally in alkaline soils in the Mekong Delta and other provinces in Viet Nam. The grass plant, which is 1-2 meters in height and has a round and hollow stem, grows abundantly during the flood season. In old times, farmers used the grass material to make handicrafts. In recent years, grey sedge grass has served as raw material to make straws.
In 2020, ADB and the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific implemented the Technical Assistance "Mitigating Impact of COVID-19 through Community-Led Interventions" project in partnership with civil society organizations. Watch this video story to see the result of this collaboration across five countries with inspiring stories of success and sustainability from innovative hygiene solutions to social protection programs.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for migrant workers in Thailand, who found themselves facing not only health risks but also economic and social hardships. Recognizing these challenges, the Asian Development Bank contracted a local-based civil society organization, Raks Thai Foundation, to implement a project aimed at addressing the plight of migrant workers in three provinces. It emphasized community-led prevention, the establishment of social protection systems, and economic support for jobless migrant workers.
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226