21 April 2008
Australia and ADB Assisting Lao PDR in Managing Mekong Resources
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Australia are providing a $1 million grant to help the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) develop the tools needed to manage its vast water and environmental resources flowing from the Mekong River.
The Mekong River traverses six of Southeast Asia’s richest and poorest countries, with Lao PDR being the source of around 38% of the annual flow of the 11th longest river in the world. The vast biodiversity of the 4,880-kilometer-long river makes it one of the world’s richest, with more than 1,200 species of fish.
“The Mekong River’s water resources contribute to the economy through irrigation for agriculture and will sustain growing hydropower revenues,” said Ian W. Makin, senior water resources management specialist of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department. “The unique environmental aspects also support tourism in the region. This project with help develop the skills and experience needed to manage those resources.”
ADB and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) each will extend a $500,000 grant, while Lao PDR will contribute $50,000 to complete the funding requirement for the project.
The project will assist Lao PDR’s Water Resources and Environment Administration (WREA) in designing programs to improve management of the nation’s vast water resources, as well as update national water resources policies for 2008-2010 and beyond.
Australian Ambassador to Lao PDR, Dr Michele Forster, said the collaboration with ADB to support the newly established WREA will help provide leadership in management of the water resources in the Lao PDR and the Mekong basin.
“Australia has been actively involved in assisting development planning and environmental protection in the Mekong Basin for the past decade,” said Dr Forster. “Development potential exists for several sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, and hydropower, but careful planning must include consideration of the potential negative impacts of exploiting the river’s resources.”
Lao PDR will become better placed to develop water-related projects in an environmentally friendly way, as well become an informed and equal partner in the Mekong River Commission, which groups together the countries surrounding the Mekong River to address cross-border water issues. Other countries that share the Mekong are Cambodia, Thailand, Viet Nam, People’s Republic of China, and Myanmar.
For more information, please contact:
ADB Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office
Sally Shute-Trembath
External Relations Officer
Tel: +61 2 8270 9444
Email: [email protected]
AusAID media contact details:
Simon Buckley
First Secretary (Water Resources)
Tel: 856 21 413 600
Email: [email protected]