(Phnom Penh): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to deploy USD 450 million to protect poor households and strengthen the economies of Cambodia and Sri Lanka as the conflict in the Middle East drives up costs and deepens uncertainty across Asia and the Pacific.

“No family should be pushed deeper into poverty by a conflict thousands of kilometers away,” said ADB President Masato Kanda. “We are moving quickly to protect more than 1 million struggling households in Cambodia while helping Sri Lanka create jobs, attract investment, and expand trade. These investments will help both countries withstand today’s pressures and emerge stronger from the next shock.”

The package combines immediate crisis support with longer-term economic reforms. It includes a USD 250 million loan for Cambodia’s Rapid Intervention for Stabilization of the Economy (RISE) Program and a USD 200 million policy-based loan for Sri Lanka’s Trade, Investment, and Industry Development Program.

In Cambodia, the RISE Program will fund temporary, targeted fiscal measures and protect planned social spending in the 2026 national budget. It will also promote clean energy technologies. More than 1 million poor households registered under the government’s IDPoor program will receive income support, including at least 350,000 households headed by women. Assistance will also include debt relief and support for agricultural inputs in rural areas.

ADB’s USD 250 million loan will be complemented by the equivalent of up to USD 250 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the equivalent of up to USD 188 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Combined financing for the program could reach USD 688 million.

In Sri Lanka, ADB’s USD 200 million loan includes USD 100 million in additional financing to help the country absorb the economic pressures created by the conflict. The program supports reforms to modernize trade systems, make small and medium-sized enterprises more competitive, and attract investment to economic zones. The reforms will help enterprises expand, export, and integrate into regional and global value chains, creating jobs and supporting private sector-led growth. By diversifying exports and strengthening competitiveness, the program will also enhance the economy’s resilience to future external shocks.

ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members, 50 from the region.
=FRESH NEWS