20 YEAR Anniversary: 1992-2012:The Asian Development Bank in Cambodia: From Rehabilitation to Inclusive Growth

Abstract

Cambodia was a founding member of ADB in 1966, but almost all lending and technical assistance to Cambodia has been since the 1990s when ADB re-engaged after an extended absence. This publication aims to capture the essence of the last 20 years of partnership between Cambodia and ADB. ADB's core product is finance, and as of October 2012, Cambodia had received $1.39 billion for 64 loans, $256 million for 21 grants, and $138 million for 179 technical assistance projects. This commemorative publication reviews activities and achievements in the main sectors of ADB engagement in Cambodia, including infrastructure, regional cooperation, urban development, tourism, rural development, flood rehabilitation, social development, public sector management, finance, and private sector development. It also covers progress on key drivers of change - governance, gender equity, climate change, knowledge partnerships, and engagement with civil society organizations, development partners, and the business community. The steps forward in these areas in Cambodia reflect the new broader 'finance ++' strategy of ADB - finance plus leverage plus knowledge. This publication concludes with a section on ADB 'then and now', detailing the return of ADB to Cambodia 20 years ago, a list of ADB milestones since 1991, reflections from all the ADB country directors since the 1990s, and concluding with the essence of the country partnership strategy 2011-2013, and the names of the Cambodia country team that are leading the Cambodia-ADB partnership into the future.