Financing the City
Session 1: Asia's Cities: Problems and Opportunities

3 May 2005 (8:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.)

The rate and scale of urbanization throughout Asia will pose a major development challenge for ADB and its developing member countries for the foreseeable future. Urban centers are increasing in size and number. By 2015 Asia's population is expected to exceed 4 billion, and almost half will be living in towns and cities. Of the world's 25 largest cities, 13 are in Asia, including 11 megacities, each with a population in excess of 10 million. Hundreds of millions live in thousands of smaller towns and cities throughout the region. Urban areas are important to national economies because they are the engines of economic growth, usually contributing well over 50% of the gross national product. Cities are also the focal points for trade, commerce, industry and government administration. Cities and towns are centers of excellence for education, health care, culture, technological innovation, entrepreneurship, social services and governance. However, rapid urbanization poses major challenges and problems, including high incidence of urban poverty; environmental degradation of water, air and land; and excessive demand for infrastructure and municipal services like water supply, sanitation, drainage, solid waste management, land management and housing.

Sustaining urban areas as economic engines and effectively managing urban growth calls for vision, commitment, expertise and resources, including finance. This session will set out problems and opportunities facing Asian cities, identify markers for the way forward and set the scene for following sessions.

Contact Us

For further information, contact Mr. Robert Dobias, tel: (63-2) 632-6783, email: rdobias@adb.org