Regional cooperation and integration (RCI) is one of the major thrusts of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). RCI is a process that interconnects national economies through closer trade integration, intraregional supply chains, and stronger financial links. It is one of the three strategic agendas of ADB’s Strategy 2020. At present, ADB is the leader in the promotion of RCI among multilateral banks.

To ensure the continued successful implementation of and support to RCI, ADB upgraded the skills of its staff and fostered collaboration among departments. It conducted a workshop in November 2008 as a first step in stimulating experience, ideas, and knowledge sharing, as well as networking on RCI among its personnel. Several lessons were learned during the activity. These include the various RCI programs ADB has run in the past, and the roles it has played in these. The workshop also highlighted factors that contribute to the success of RCI programs, as well as those that hinder their progress.

Through the activity, staff learned that they need to gear up since increased lending for RCI will demand greater resources from ADB. They learned that more needs to be done to realize the RCI, as it is envisioned in ADB’s Strategy 2020. To achieve ADB’s RCI target of increased lending by 30 percent, its departments must move in synergy and with greater engagements with internal and external partners.