The Regional Cooperation and Integration Financing Partnership Facility (RCIFPF) was established in 2007 to support regional cooperation and integration (RCI) in Asia and the Pacific by (i) improving cross-border physical connectivity; (ii) increasing trade and investment flows in developing member countries (DMCs) from regional and nonregional economies; (iii) preserving macroeconomic and financial stability in the region; and (iv) improving regional environmental, health, and social conditions.
The RCIFPF includes two trust funds: the Asia Regional Trade and Connectivity Fund (ARTCF), a trust fund established by the Government of United Kingdom, and the Investment Climate Facilitation Fund (ICFF), a trust fund contributed by the Government of Japan.
The ICFF aims to promote investments in DMCs and facilitate RCI by improving investment climate, building capacity, and promoting good governance. The ARTCF aims to support DMCs in Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia in improving regional connectivity and trade facilitation.
To date, the RCIFPF has provided $47.3 million in total for 43 TA projects that have supported RCI in various areas —$15.91 million for 14 projects by ARTCF and $31.34 million for 29 projects by the ICFF. In more than a decade, the RCIFPF has reached out to countries in fragile and conflict-affected situations, small island developing states, and landlocked developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. The facility supports upstream knowledge work and midstream business development that lead to the design of innovative RCI investment projects, particularly in the areas of multimodal transport connectivity, cross-border energy trade, economic corridor development, regional agricultural value chain development, sustainable tourism, and regional health security, among others.
Trust Funds
Investment Climate Facilitation Fund
| Year Established | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Partner | Japan |
| Cumulative Contributions Committed | $31.6 million |
| Project Commitments | |
| Technical Assistance | $31.3 million for 29 TAs |
The Investment Climate Facilitation Fund (ICFF) was established in 2008 to help address the challenges of promoting investments and facilitate regional cooperation and integration through the construction of basic infrastructure, improvements in the investment climate, capacity building, and promotion of good governance, among others. The fund is used to finance technical assistance and grant components of investment projects that contribute directly to poverty reduction.
The ICFF focuses on regional financial sector development and improvement of the environment for cross-border investment.
United Kingdom Fund for Asia Regional Trade and Connectivity
| Year Established | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Partner | United Kingdom |
| Cumulative Contributions Committed | $27.3 million |
| Project Commitments | |
| Technical Assistance | $15.9 million for 14 TAs |
The United Kingdom Fund for Asia Regional Trade and Connectivity (ARTCF) was established in 2018. Its objective is to support the implementation of ADB’s Operational Plan for Regional Cooperation and Integration by financing regional cooperation and integration activities in selected member countries in Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, leading to improved integration with other regions of the world.
The ARTCF supports regional electricity connectivity and trade, transport connectivity, digital connectivity, regulatory reform, and broad regional trade and investment facilitation, among others.
Project Map
