The FINANCIAL — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Myanmar on May 15 signed a non-sovereign framework agreement that will allow ADB to provide loans, equity investments, guarantees, and trade financing directly to private companies and projects in the country.
“The private sector is the country’s engine of economic growth, and the government welcomes ADB’s support to private sector ventures in Myanmar,” Dr. Maung Maung Thein, Myanmar’s Deputy Minister of Finance, said during the signing ceremony attended by other government officials, ADB Vice-President Stephen Groff, other ADB officials and the media.
ADB estimates that the investment gap for Myanmar that needs to be filled to maintain high economic growth and achieve middle-income country status by 2030 is around $80 billion, according to ADB.
“The role of private sector investment in meeting infrastructure financing requirements and providing important expertise and technology is critical”, said Mr. Groff.
In Myanmar, ADB expects to approve up to $1 billion in non-sovereign investment projects until 2016 in areas ranging from logistics and connectivity, power generation, telecommunications, and urban development, to financial sector and trade finance.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2014, ADB assistance totaled $22.9 billion, including cofinancing of $9.2 billion.
Discussion about this post