Overview

Multilateral finance agencies provide finance to governments of developing member countries for projects across a wide range of sectors including agriculture, rural development, infrastructure (ports, roads, water systems and power plants), education, governance, population, health, urban and industrial development, information technology and telecommunications and training.

Each project can involve anywhere from one to hundreds of separate contracts which are in effect export business opportunities for Australian suppliers.

For Australian business, multilateral agencies offer opportunities through the World Bank Group (WBG), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the United Nations (UN), which are amongst the world’s largest development funding entities.

In 2006, the World Bank alone provided more that US$23.6 billion in funding for 279 development projects.

The prospects are good for improving Australia’s share of multilateral project business, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where Australian companies have a good geographic advantage and an established reputation.

Projects usually involve the purchase of goods, civil works and consulting services but it’s the supply of consulting services that Australian companies have been most competitive.

What are the key opportunities?

In recent years, there has been a shift in focus towards multilateral agencies to fund more infrastructure projects and increased involvement in good governance, particularly anti corruption as well as traditional areas of education, health and poverty alleviation.

The multilateral agencies that offer prospects for Australian business include:

• The World Bank Group
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• The United Nations Development agencies
• AusAID
• Bilateral agencies
• Non-government organisations (NGOs)

Where are the key opportunities?

Opportunities for Australian companies for both major implementation assignments and individual technical assistance consultancies can be found in developing countries in East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and Sub Saharan Africa regions.

Please see the list of industry country profiles for the multilateral projects industry at the end of this overview.

How can we help you?

With a network of over 140 overseas locations in more than 60 countries backed by highly experienced and qualified staff, Austrade provides a number of dedicated and tailored services to Australian exporters. Austrade’s offices are strategically positioned in key cities where the World Bank, United Nations and Asian Development Bank have their global headquarters.

Austrade provides services to assist in your pursuit of multilateral projects. These include:

• Strategic advice and assistance
• Targeted project research
• Targeted visit programs and representation
• Niche opportunity delivery
• Advocacy

In addition to Austrade’s core services there are annual business delegations to headquarters of the Asian Development Bank, United Nations and the World Bank Group. These missions provide a comprehensive program to assist Australian companies to understand the funding trends of the donor agency, identify key opportunities and high level networking opportunities with the international development community.

For further information please contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or email info@austrade.gov.au.

Useful contacts

Austrade’s multilateral specialist contacts

Garry Mahlberg
Email: garry.mahlberg@austrade.gov.au

Government contacts

NSW Department of State & Regional Development - www.business.nsw.gov.au
Queensland Government - www.sd.qld.gov.au
Western Australia Government - www.doir.wa.gov.au

Multilateral Agencies

The Asian Development Bank – www.adb.org
AusAID – www.ausaid.gov.au
United Nations Agencies – www.unsystem.org
The World Bank Group – www.worldbank.org

Last updated: 12 Jul 2007