AFP loans for energy-efficiency project

AFD loan will be reloaned to individual buyers of the housing units in eligible buildings, the agency said in a statement.

 The project has been designed to demonstrate to the market and the public that high energy efficiency in residential building is technically and economically viable. 

AFD team have worked closely with the Government Housing Bank and the industry professionals to design technical standards in which a substantial savings of up to 40 per cent regular energy bill can be achieved by investing 5 per cent more in the upfront construction and equipment cost compared with regular buildings.

 AFD's support for the project includes not only the favourable loan conditions, reflected in low interest rates and long tenor, but also the technical assistance to help the bank develop its internal capacity to develop similar projects in the future.  Negotiations on the loan conditions have been advanced and GH Bank expects to submit AFD proposal for the government's approval shortly.

AFD is a public institution serving the general interest by providing development finance.  As a specialized financial institution wholly-owned by the French Government, AFD finances economic and social projects carried by government local authorities, public companies, as well as private sectors. 

 With 41 offices abroad, AFD is active in more than 60 countries throughout the world.  AFD's financial commitments in 2007 reached Euro 3.5 billion with a total outstanding amount of Euro 10.6 billion. 

AFD office in Thailand was established in February 2006, during which AFD signed the Establishment Agreement with Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  AFD's mandates in Thailand are to become a key partner of Thailand in trilateral cooperation, especially in neighbouring countries such as Lao PDR and Cambodia, as well as the preservation of global public goods, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and bio-diversity preservation. 

AFD is mandated to provide subsidized and non-subsidized credit facility directly or indirectly to projects which are eligible under sustainable development criteria.