The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been supporting Bhutan in achieving strong economic growth for over nearly four decades. And further intensifying its impacts of investments in the country, ADB will support the 12th Five Year Plan for the next five years. ADB will focus on three priority areas of reform, connectivity and inclusiveness.
Releasing the Development Effectiveness Report 2020 today, the country director of ADB said, the performance of ADB’s assistance program and support in the country during 2014-2018 remained relevant and effective. And moving forward, ADB will support an inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth to ensure that people have access to resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
“The first priority is to reform meaning we will help the government achieve the institutional reform that will help the country’s economic growth to achieve the level of development that the government needs. And the second area is on connectivity because we are very good at providing support in infrastructure. It’s not just infrastructure for the sake of infrastructure but it is about connecting people to the market and opportunities. And lastly, it’s very important, it is on inclusiveness,” said Kanokpan Lao-Araya, the Country Director of Bhutan Resident Mission at the ADB.
Bhutan became a member of the Asian Development Bank in 1982 and since then it has played a major role in scaling up the nation’s infrastructure. Today, ADB is Bhutan’s largest multilateral development partner, with commitments reaching more than USD 900 M in February this year.
Sonam Pem
