The TA will review international and national practices and policies of internet plus agriculture business models. The TA will also identify constraints and opportunities for participation of farmers and farmer organizations in internet plus economy. In addition, a policy note will be prepared comprising regulatory and investment recommendations to develop PRC’s internet plus economy in the agriculture sector. The TA also aligns with ADB’s core area of operations and the strategic priorities outlined in the Midterm Review of Strategy 2020. Supporting inclusive economic growth is a focus of ADB’s country partnership strategy for the PRC, 2016–2020, which supports rural development by promoting good practices to strengthen agriculture productivity and value chain participation of rural households. Improved value chain linkages and enhanced food safety are key priorities of ADB’s Operational Plan for Agriculture and Natural Resources. It is envisaged to achieve these priorities through ADB operations support for the application of information and communication technology in agriculture and food value chains. The ADB lending program in the PRC provides support to agriculture value chain development including by linking agribusinesses and local entrepreneurs with poor farmers.

The PRC Government has issued several policies and pilots to enhance the use of internet technologies as a means to transform and integrate the rural economy: (i) Guiding opinion of the State Council on actively promoting the "internet" (State Council Guo Fa 2015 No. 40), (ii) Opinions on implementing new development concepts to boost agricultural modernization and comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society (2016 State Council document No. 1), (iii) in 2014 and 2015, 256 countries were selected by the Ministry of Commerce for piloting of e-commerce in rural areas, and each pilot county will receive CNY10 million funding support from central government for rural logistics, e-commerce service station, primary processing facility development as well as quality control system and brand establishment.

Internet plus is a government initiative with the goal to integrate internet technologies (cloud computing, big data, and the internet things, etc.) with traditional industries to enhance information sharing, decrease cost, increase efficiency and thus innovate and integrate several sectors. Internet plus is expected to play a unique role in powering the growth and transforming economies.

IMPACT
Rural economy successfully restructured.

CONSULTING SERVICES
Consultants will be engaged on an individual basis in accordance with ADB s Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time).

PROCUREMENT
All ADB-financed procurement will be conducted following ADB s Procurement Guidelines (2015, as amended from time to time).

Department of Rural Economy, NDRC
38.S. Yuetan St. Beijing China

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB
The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main