China - Three Gorges Modern Logistics Center Infrastructure Project

Overview & Synopsis

Ratings of the Three Gorges Modern Logistics Center Infrastructure Project for People's Republic of China were as follows: outcome was satisfactory; Bank performance was satisfactory; M&E quality was substantial. Lessons learned and recommendations are as follows. Early engagement with operation approval authorities is critical for achieving multimodal connectivity in integrated transport projects; future projects should initiate formal discussions with relevant authorities during preparation to understand approval requirements and timelines, include multimodal connectivity approvals as explicit implementation milestones, establish a dedicated coordination mechanism with approval authorities throughout the project lifecycle, and consider making operational approval a condition for realizing full project benefits. Indicator selection should prioritize outcomes within the project’s control rather than market-dependent variables; future projects should emphasize indicators on infrastructure capacity utilization and service quality, institutional capacity development and sustainability, operational efficiency improvements such as processing times and cost reductions, and user satisfaction and service quality, rather than absolute volume metrics vulnerable to external fluctuations. Adaptive planning and strong community engagement are essential for land acquisition and successful resettlement; recommended actions include establishing comprehensive stakeholder engagement mechanisms from preparation through implementation, designing resettlement plans that accommodate diverse household preferences through multiple compensation options such as cash, property exchange, or hybrid arrangements, and allocating resettlement budgets early with clear links to implementation milestones and contingency provisions to enable adaptive measures while ensuring effective budget management.