How ADB is supporting Asian cities to transform their mobility systems

 

Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed mobility practices. The duration and complexity of the pandemic have pushed cities and countries to make changes and adaptations in public transport, in private mobility choices, in the way they approach urban mobility planning. In this way, the pandemic has provoked a re-examination of what was considered established knowledge in the transport and mobility sector.  

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many governments in the Asia-Pacific region have stated their desire to better understand and organise mobility (urban, logistics, etc.).   

In this context, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to support them in particular on specific needs - in terms of human mobility, urban planning, strengthening logistics and cross-border integration - that require adaptations and innovations. Moreover, the ADB is actively involved in accelerating the development of sustainable and low-carbon transport in the region.   

Since its inception, the ADB has always been heavily involved in the transport sector. 5 billion in financing (about a quarter of its total commitment) for about 30 projects each year. The composition of the project portfolio has changed considerably over the past fifteen years and now covers urban transport, roads, railways and, to a lesser extent, maritime and air transport.   

In the field of urban mobility, the ADB favours long-term commitment and the development of projects with high added value and transformational impact. For example, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Peshawar, Pakistan, benefited from ADB's technical and financial support (co-financed with the Agence Française de Développement). This project has just been awarded the prestigious 'Sustainable Transport Award' 2022 for its exemplary nature.  

The next edition of the Asia-Pacific Transport Forum will be held from 5 to 7 April 2022, for the second time online, and will provide an opportunity to review the impact of the pandemic on mobility practices in the region.  

More information on the Asia Pacific Transport Forum here.