France

ADB holds annual high-level consultations with the AFD to discuss broader strategic alignment and strategic and operational directions for the partnership at the senior level.

In October 2016, ADB and the AFD signed a partnership framework agreement (PFA) for 2016–2022, aimed at reaching $1.5 billion in cofinancing from each for the first 3 years of collaboration. By 2018, AFD cofinancing had reached and exceeded this target at $1.6 billion. For the remaining 3 years, ADB and the AFD have decided to increase the amount to $2.5 billion each and signed the Amendment to the PFA in February 2019.

France’s support to Asia focuses on, but is not limited to, sustainable cities, urban transport, climate change, social protection, railways, and air pollution. Priority countries are Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Uzbekistan.

In 2004, ADB and the AFD established the Cooperation Fund for Project Preparation in the Greater Mekong Subregion and in Other Specific Asian Countries, a single-partner trust fund that supports project preparatory technical assistance operations to be designed, processed, and administered by ADB. The AFD at its discretion provides additional contribution annually. Ideally, the trust fund resources should be used for project preparation with the view of ensuring AFD cofinancing to the investment loan. As of 31 December 2020, the AFD has contributed about $8.5 million with 15 approved technical assistances, 8 completions, and 1 cancellation.

As of December 2020, ADB’s Trade Finance Program (TFP) has supported 177 French export and import transactions (through French and non-French banks) to developing Asia valued at over $135.3 million. Exports and imports were to seven countries, but mostly to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Viet Nam. Isolating TFP’s work with French banks, the TFP works with 6 banks domiciled in France and has provided guarantees supporting $1.9 billion in trade in over 297 transactions. The program has also mobilized $763.4 million in cofinancing with banks operating in France. This cofinancing helps leverage ADB resources and brings more support for developing members.