Within the country s economic adjustment framework, the Bank continues to seek opportunities to introduce environmentally sound policies. Three projects were approved this year. Their Environmental and Social Assessment Framework is being applied to other Indian private sector infrastructure development projects. The Kerinci-Seblat Biodiversity Integrated Conservation and Development Project was approved this fiscal year. This approach is characteristic of the Bank s Biodiversity Assistance Strategy .
Discussions are now underway in the Philippines to introduce a similar system.
In Vietnam, the Bank focused on the industrialization strategy s environmental implications and technical assistance to help the Government develop enforcement standards and mechanisms. In Thailand, work continues to refine the health impacts of Bangkok s air pollution, and to calculate cost-effective measures to allow the city to attain its targets at the least cost. In Laos and Cambodia, deforestation is receiving attention to reform the policy and institutional framework for forest management. Several South Asia projects are addressing environmental priority-setting and institutional capacity building. In Bangladesh, work is underway to implement the National Environmental Management Action Plan.