Istanbul 2005 Annual Meeting

Participation of Nongovernment Organizations (NGOs)

NGOs have participated in ADB Annual Meetings for over a decade, and are invited to attend the 38th Annual Meeting at the Lutfi Kirdar Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre (ICEC) in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Annual Meeting presents a venue for NGOs to interact with ADB's Management and managers, as well as with government representatives on the Board of Directors and in country delegations.

NGOs attending Annual Meetings must be accredited in advance. NGOs that have been accredited in past years retain their accreditation indefinitely unless the government of the country in which the NGO is based expresses an objection.

The NGO Center (NGOC) coordinates the accreditation process for NGOs, while the Office of The Secretary is responsible for inviting and registering participants from among accredited NGOs. If an NGO wishes to be accredited, a letter expressing interest to attend the Annual Meeting -- together with the NGO's complete contact details -- must be transmitted to the NGO Center by 25 February 2005. This information can be sent by fax +63-2 636-2356 or email (ngocoordinator@adb.org). As requests for government endorsement may take time, it is strongly recommended that letters of interest from NGOs be sent to the NGOC as soon as possible. Please note that, as in previous years, on-site registration will not be allowed in the Annual Meeting.

Starting on 2 May 2005, several sessions will be held on topics of interest to NGOs, starting with a general forum on cooperation between ADB and NGOs. The NGO Program will also include a meeting between NGO representatives and a senior ADB official. Suggestions for seminar topics are welcomed, but should be sent to the NGOC well in advance of the meeting.

ADB will provide an NGO Room and basic administrative assistance to NGOs at the ICEC. The NGO Room will have a large conference hall and an enclosed small meeting room. The conference hall is intended for seminars and other major NGO consultations, while the meeting room may be reserved by NGO participants to hold small meetings and informal discussions. Two computers with Internet access and a printer will be made available for participants. NGO publications and informational materials may be displayed at a designated area in the NGO Room.

ADB does not limit the number of NGOs that attend the Annual Meeting, but due to space considerations, the number of persons representing an individual NGO may be limited. NGO representatives are responsible for their own travel and accommodations. ADB seeks broad representation from NGOs active in the development of the Asia-Pacific region, and encourages visitors to this page to share details about the Annual Meeting with other NGOs working in the region.