ADB opens Bangkok hub

ADB opens Bangkok hub

BANGKOK: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) opened on Wednesday
an office in Thailand to serve as a hub for its activities in the
Mekong River subregion and to help launch Asian bonds.

"Bangkok will actually perform an important regional role for
the bank and be a forum for our dialog with Thailand as a member
of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)," said Raja Nag, director
general for ADB's Mekong Department.

The Mekong region comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand,
Vietnam and southern China -- or the six countries through which
the Mekong River flows.

Thailand is the most economically developed of the Mekong
subregion countries.

"There is a wide range of skills and knowledge Thailand offers
to the international community that we hope to take advantage of
in helping poorer countries," said Jassem Ahmed, ADB's chief
Thailand economist.-- DPA