China-IMF Capacity Development Center – EBRD Workshop on Sustainable Infrastructure

The China-IMF Capacity Development Center (CICDC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) organized their first joint workshop entitled “Holistic Sustainability in Infrastructure: How to Ensure Projects are Well-Prepared, Deliver Value for Money, and Maintain Fiscal Balance” in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.The Belt and Road Initiative is underpinned by the idea that countries should exchange experiences, discuss policy measures, and jointly formulate strategic plans for long-term sustainable development. EBRD's Sustainable Infrustructure Project Preparation Facility was created to foster efficient, high-quality, and sustainable policy and project preparation support for infrastructure investments that boost long-term growth, well-being and economic competitiveness. The CICDC was established during the Belt and Road Summit in May 2017 by the People’s Bank of China and the IMF as a way to expand capacity development activities within China and beyond.

The workshop, delivered by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) and the EBRD’s Sustainable Infrastructure Policy and Project Preparation Team, was held on April 17-18, 2019 at the Joint Vienna Institute (JVI) in Austria. It was attended by officials from nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. CICDC coordinator, Ling Hui Tan, participated in the opening session of the workshop alongside JVI Director, Thomas Richardson, and workshop co-leaders, Yasemin Hurcan (FAD) and Marcos Martinez Garcia (EBRD).

Thomas Richardson, Director, JVI