People's Republic of China: Inner Mongolia Sustainable Cross-Border Development Investment Program (Tranche 1)

Summary

The investment program will promote sustainable development of cross-border areas and mutually beneficial regional cooperation and integration between Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Mongolia. The program will improve economic inclusion, ecosystems, and crucial services in the five IMAR border crossing point (BCP) communities and surrounding areas on both sides of the 3,200 kilometer (km) PRC-Mongolia, which lags in economic and social development. The program will enhance infrastructure at key BCPs, related services including health services, and living conditions by improving environment and waste management systems. Expanded financial and business support to small and medium-sized enterprises in border regions will spur local income growth. Establishment of an agricultural value chain will enhance livelihoods on both sides of the frontier. The program will have strong regional spillover benefits to Mongolia: improvement in infrastructure and services at IMAR-Mongolia BCPs will boost the volume and quality of trade, creating about 3,300 direct and indirect jobs in Mongolia; and improvement in health and other services will benefit disadvantaged communities on both sides of the border.

Expected Outcome

Sustainable economic opportunities and living conditions in areas along the IMAR-Mongolia border improved.

Expected Outputs

• Sustainable infrastructure for cross-border connectivity and health services improved
• Ecological environment in key border towns improved
• Income generating opportunities expanded
• Cross-border cooperation mechanisms, technical project management, and institutional capacity strengthened