AFDC launches distance learning seminar on Transport Infrastructure Development and Financing for Asia-Pacific
This year, the Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center (AFDC) in collaboration with the World Bank, KDI School (Korea), Institute of Financial Training (Vietnam Ministry of Finance) and Tokyo Development Learning Center launched a special distance learning seminar series on Financing Growth: Improving the Investment Environment through Infrastructure Development for Asia-Pacific via the Global Distance Learning Network.
The first seminar of this series with the theme of Urban Infrastructure Development and Financing was held on April 19. Then, the second seminar with the theme of Transport Infrastructure Development and Financing was held on June 14. About 160 participants attended the seminar via videoconference connecting eleven sites in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and China.
Five experts respectively from Indonesia Sustainable Development Unit of the World Bank, KDI School, Japan Ministry of Land Infrastructure Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Vietnam Ministry of Finance and Shanghai Municipal Finance Bureau. They shared with participants each country’s case studies on state of road sector, experience of successful or failed transport infrastructure projects, fund procurement, investment outcome etc.
In the Q&A session, participants raised questions on details of the cases in each country, among others, to discuss with experts.
Participants of the seminar are government officials in departments of finance, business and trade, as well as academics, and private sector business practitioners. By sharing experience and promoting lessons learned, participants grasp a better idea of the importance of transport infrastructure in improving investment environment and the financing status of infrastructure development in each country.
The third seminar of this series with the theme of IT Infrastructure Development and Financing will be held in October this year.
