Annual Meeting

Invitation to Media

36th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank
As of 28 February 2003

To Editors, Business and Financial Editors,
Bureau Chiefs and Correspondents

You are cordially invited to attend the Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from Wednesday, 21 May to Friday, 23 May 2003.

Invitations are being sent to journalists by e-mail in the next few weeks but if, for some reason, you do not receive an invitation and would like to attend the Meeting, please e-mail Ian Gill at igill@adb.org or Gilda Nanquil at gnanquil@adb.org and we will make sure you receive an invitation.

Governors of ADB's 61 members, including some Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, are expected to attend. Representatives from banks, other international financial institutions, and NGOs will also be there.

The Opening Session will take place in the Lutfi Kirdar Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre (ICEC) on Wednesday, 21 May. Business Sessions will also be held at ICEC on Thursday, 22 May and Friday, 23 May. The last Business Session will end at about 12:00 noon on Friday, 23 May.

Video and Photo Coverage

Please note that video and photographic coverage of the Opening Session at the Lutfi Kirdar Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, 21 May, will be open to accredited TV crews and photographers. The opening ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m. but cameramen and photographers are advised to arrive by 9:00 a.m. to clear security. There will be an area designated for photographers and cameramen. Photographers will be allowed closer to the podium for the first few minutes of the speeches. Mult boxes will be available for live sound. Video and photographic coverage of the Business Sessions at ICEC will also be permitted. Platforms will also be installed for this purpose.

Seminars

Seminars are open to all accredited participants.

Government, private sector, and civil society representatives will share their views on development and financial issues from 19 to 23 May 2003.

For inquiries, e-mail: amseminars@adb.org

Registration

Please note that your invitation will include a URL and a user ID and password that will enable you to access a secure registration site and register. Thus, all registration will be online and the deadline for online registration is May 2.

Identification badges entitling the holder to attend sessions of the Board of Governors will be issued at the Registration Desks. You need to present your passport to claim your badge. The Registration Desks will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from 19 May to 23 May. The badge should be worn at all times in the Meeting areas and at official events.

Please note that, unless we are advised otherwise in writing, your name and position may be disclosed to other organizations through conference documentation for purposes of issuing invitations to other functions related to the Meeting.

Media Facilities

A fully-equipped Media Center will be set up for journalists at the Ahmet Fethi Pasha Hall. Staffed by ADB's Office of External Relations, the Media Center will have desk space for more than 100 journalists and booths for news agencies. The Media Center will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. starting on Monday, 19 May until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 23 May.

Full communication services will be available. However, media are advised to bring their own notebook computers. Telephones will have computer link facilities for local as well as international calls. Internet services will be provided. All phone and fax services will be provided on a user-pay basis.

Closed-circuit television coverage of the Opening and Business Sessions will be provided at the Media Center. Information on press conferences and other events of interest will be posted on bulletin boards.

Hyperlinking

We would like to hyperlink your stories during the Annual Meeting to our web site. Please let us have your e-mail address (the editorial e-mail address in addition to your individual e-mail address).

Media Briefing and Cocktails

A media briefing will be given by Media Liaison Specialist Ian Gill at the Ahmet Fethi Pasha Hall at 6:00 p.m. on 19 May. The briefing will be followed by cocktails.

Accommodation

Arrangements for travel and hotel accommodation will be the responsibility of attending media. Hotel accommodation (please see attached Hotel Accommodation Form) has been block-booked by the ADB Secretariat and will be handled by Flap Tour. Please contact:

Ms. Aysin Onur
Flap Tour

Before 15 May 2003
Cinnah Caddesi No. 42
06690 Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey
Fax No. (90-312) 440-7799
Tel. No. (90-312) 442-0700
E-mail address: aysin@flaptour.com.tr

After 15 May 2003
Lutfi Kirdar Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center
Harbiye 80230, Istanbul, Turkey
Fax No. (90-212) 296-3073
Tel. No. (90-212) 296-3074
E-mail address: aysin@flaptour.com.tr

Shipment/Display of Publications

The financial and business media, especially those with ADB-related material, are welcome to display their publications during the Annual Meeting in the Ahmet Fethi Pasha Hall which is adjacent to the Istanbul Convention & Exhibition Centre from 19 to 23 May 2003.

The official cargo handler for the Annual Meeting is Flap Tour. Media wishing to send publications should contact:

Mr. Irfan YALÇIN
Flap Tour
Buss. Development Responsible
Export & Import Dept.
Tel no.: ++ 312 442 07 00
Fax no.: ++ 312 440 77 99
Email: irfan@flaptour.com.tr

All expenses for the shipment of publications to the Annual Meeting are for the account of media. Media are also responsible for customs clearance in Istanbul and the delivery of publications to the media center and the publications display center at the Ahmet Fethi Pasha Hall.

Queries

Media queries on the Annual Meeting may be addressed to Mr. Ian Gill, Media Liaison Specialist, at:

Asian Development Bank
P.O. Box 789
Manila 0980, Philippines
Telephone: (632) 632-5890 (direct) or (632) 632-5878
Fax: (632) 636-2641 or (636) 636-2640
E-mail: igill@adb.org