From 19 to 26 September 2022, the Asian Management and Development Institute (AMDI) participated in the annual ADB Mission under the Fourth Greater Mekong Sub-region Corridor Towns Development Project (GMS4). This is the annual mission meeting to evaluate the project progress by the Asian Development Bank.
The Fourth Greater Mekong Sub-region Corridor Towns Development Project (GMS4) – Asian Development Bank (ADB) Grant has been implemented from 2019 with the aim to support the Government of Lao PDR in improving urban environmental services and enhancing regional economic connectivity in the two towns of Paksan and Thakhek located along the North-South Economic Corridor in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). The project’s results will accelerate urban development node along the GMS North-South Economic Corridor in Lao PDR and promote the National Socioeconomic Development Plan targeting balanced regional and local development.
The Asian Management and Development Institute (AMDI) – the Lead Firm of AMDI-CONINCO-BMEC Joint Venture is the Project Implementation Consultant (PIC) for 60 project months under the Contract CS-01 signed on 11 March 2019.
Participating in the second regular review mission in 2022 had representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) team, the Project Central Unit (PCU) and Project Implementation Units (PIUs) in Paksan and Thakhek, as well as international and national consultants of PIC.
The Mission in Thakhek, Khammouane
Although the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has been extremely complicated since 2020 and there was the first direct review mission after the COVID-19 outbreak, the Mission recognized the Project’s encouraging progress. Specifically, the two Paksan and Thakhek Municipal Solid Waste Subprojects, and two Paksan and Thakhek Stormwater Drainage Subprojects were awarded and under construction. Three other subprojects including Paksan Riverbank Protection for San River Subproject, Paksan and Thakhek DEWATS Units Subprojects which are under bidding process and expectedly to be awarded and to commence in Quarter 4 of 2022. The remaining Thakhek Riverbank Protection for Mekong River Subproject and Thakhek Urban renewal, heritage conservation Subproject are under the process of design and bidding document finalization, then ready for bidding process in Quarter 4 of 2022 and Quarter 1 of 2023.
Some photos of the ADB mission in September 2022
The meeting at LRM office in Vientiane, Lao PDR
The Mission conducted a field trip to Paksan, Bolikhamxay province