Contacts: Mr. ZHI LIU The World Bank Tel: +66 (0) 2-686-8300 Email: zliu@worldbank.org Khun MUNCHULA SIRICHAROEN NEDA Tel: 66(0) 2-357-3510-7 Email: munchula@mof.go.th BANGKOK, September 8, 2006 – Representatives from both the World Bank and the Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) of Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today in Bangkok, to pursue their common objective of enhancing sustainable economic and social development in the Mekong Subregion. Both organizations agreed to share knowledge on aid operational policies and procedures, and join efforts to support the development programs of neighboring countries. The signing ceremony, which took place at the World Bank Office in Bangkok, marks the beginning of a new area of activity in the on-going Partnership for Development. This Partnership for Development is an umbrella framework that defines the collaborative activities between Thailand and the World Bank Group. “Over the last few years, the Partnership for Development has successfully generated a number of diagnostic and monitoring products and provided implementation support for selected critical issues in Thailand’s overall national development agenda,” said Ian Porter, World Bank Country Director for Thailand, at the ceremony. After having reached most of the country Millennium Development Goals that Thailand has set for itself, the country has embraced new challenges, including expanding its role in the Mekong Region as an emerging donor. In recent years, Thailand has been increasingly active in regional cooperation: “NEDA, as a new public organization, has a vision to be Thailand’s most user friendly agent to foster economic development partnerships with neighboring countries. We aim to induce sustainable prosperity and the well-being of people in the region...Through NEDA, Thailand has been providing grants and loans to development projects that correspond to Thailand’s policy and strategy,” Lt. Nophadol Bhandhugravi, President of NEDA, stated during the ceremony. “Over the past several months, regional cooperation has been one of the hottest topics of the region, owing to the expectation that regional cooperation amongst members will be a driving force towards mutual benefits for all.” Lt. Nophadol futher stated. The MOU between NEDA and the World Bank provides a framework of collaboration between the two organizations under which both can share knowledge and ideas, and plan joint activities in areas of common interest. By working in partnership, both organizations can maximize their impact in the region. “Through the new partnership with NEDA, the World Bank hopes to broaden the collaboration with the Thai Government to the support of the neighboring countries and regional development programs,” Mr. Porter further stated. In recent years, the Bank has become increasingly active in supporting the Greater Mekong Subregional (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program. “We work with the GMS governments, the Asian Development Bank and other development partners active in the GMS, to help countries maximize the benefits of increased cooperation and achieve higher economic growth and faster poverty reduction,” Mr. Porter said. “The World Bank seeks to do this by helping countries better understand the benefits of cooperation, as well as the complexities surrounding different cross-border issues.” Through its partnership with NEDA, the World Bank hopes to support the institutional capacity building effort of NEDA by sharing its knowledge and know-how. This is expected to enhance Thailand’s role as an emerging donor in the Mekong region. In the initial phase of the collaboration, both NEDA and the World Bank will focus on infrastructure and environment sectors in the neighboring countries of Thailand. “Our mission is to promote infrastructural development, enhance competitiveness and improve quality of life by providing financial and technical assistance to neighboring countries,” Lt. Nophadol stated. The World Bank currently works in partnership with a number of multilateral and bilateral development agencies in various countries to better coordinate aid and more effectively achieve its development goals. There are more than 63,000 donor-funded development projects worldwide. These projects are governed by numerous guidelines and procedures designed to ensure that aid gets to the poor. Experience shows that capacity in aid-recipient countries can be improved and strengthened quickly when donors better coordinate their activities and harmonize their procedures. About NEDA Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (Public Organization) or NEDA, established in 2004, has a main mission of promoting sustainable development, enhancing competitiveness, raising quality of life, and ensuring peace and strong relationships in the region. NEDA provides financial and knowledge-based assistances for neighboring countries, such as Laos and Cambodia, to achieve the main mission. For more information, please visit http://www.mof.go.th/neda About the World Bank The World Bank’s mission is to reduce poverty, improve living standards, and promote sustainable economic and social development in its developing member countries. It achieves these objectives by providing loans, concessional financing, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing services to its member countries and through partnerships with other organizations. The Bank has an interest in collaborating with multilateral and bilateral development institutions to improve the effectiveness of development assistance, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the Bank’s global public goods and global advocacy priorities. For more information, please visit http://www.worldbank.org/ or http://www.worldbank.or.th |
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