Invitation to Media

Government leaders – including Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors – as well as representatives from the private sector, academe, media, and civil society groups from around the world will gather in Indonesia from Saturday, 2 May, to Tuesday, 5 May 2009, for the Forty-second Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Some 3,000 participants are expected to attend the meeting, which will be held at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) on the tropical island of Bali, famed for its picturesque Hindu shrines, rice terraces and vibrant arts scene.

ADB is Asia's leading development institution and a center for knowledge in economics, development and regional integration. The Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for member country officials and leading figures from the private sector to hold formal and informal consultations that could help shape economic, financial and social policies and programs. Alongside the Annual Meeting, the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as Japan, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN + 3), will hold talks.

The 2009 Annual Meeting will take stock of the progress made under ADB’s Strategy 2020, its Long-Term Strategic Framework for 2008-2020, which was formally adopted in 2008. The strategy puts inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration at the core of ADB’s development and poverty reduction agenda.

Every effort is made to ensure that the Annual Meeting provides an effective venue for explaining to the public, directly or through media, the responsibilities, objectives and outcomes of the work of ADB. Media are cordially invited to cover the meeting and participate in all the seminars. Invitations will be sent by e-mail from January 2009. If you do not receive an invitation and would like to attend the meeting, please e-mail Micheline Millar at mmillar@adb.org or Gilda Nanquil at gnanquil@adb.org and we will ensure that you receive an invitation.

The Opening Session will be held at BICC on Monday, 4 May 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Business Sessions will also be held at BICC on Monday, 4 May and Tuesday, 5 May. The last Business Session will end at about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 5 May, followed by a press conference with the ADB President.

A detailed program of events is now available. Only journalists with official badges will have access to the meetings and seminars.

A media briefing is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 2 May 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at BICC to set the agenda and to brief journalists on key events during the Annual Meeting. The ADB President is expected to be present. The briefing will be followed by lunch.

Video and photographic coverage of the Opening Session at BICC, on Monday, 4 May, will be open to accredited TV crews and photographers. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. Camera crews and photographers are advised to arrive by 9:45 a.m. to clear security. There will be an area designated for photographers and camera crews. Platforms will be installed for this purpose. Video and photographic coverage of the Business Sessions at BICC will also be permitted.

Media should register online. Please note that your invitation will include a URL and a user ID and password that will enable you to access a registration site. Deadline for online registration will be on 18 April 2009. Those unable to register online can register at the site when the Registration Desks open on 1 May 2009 at 7:30 a.m. The Registration Desks will be located at the Keraton Room, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel. Applicants will be asked to provide valid identification documents. Acceptable media credentials include those issued by local and national authorities, or a recognized professional association of journalists. If such credentials are not held, or are in question, it will be at the discretion of the ADB to determine whether access to the Annual Meeting can be granted.

Identification badges allowing access to sessions of the Board of Governors will be issued at the Registration Desks. You need to present your passport to claim your badge. Local media based in Indonesia may present other officially issued photographic identification documents. Registration Desks will be open daily from 1 May to 5 May. The badge should be worn at all times in 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 Annual Meeting.

A fully equipped Media Center will be set up for journalists at BICC. Staffed by ADB's Department of External Relations, it 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. on Saturday, 2 May, until 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, 5 May.

Full communication services will be available. 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.

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).

Hotel rooms may be booked online through the host country website or by contacting the professional congress organizer:

PT. Royalindo Convention International (Royalindo)
Address: Gedung PIC, Ground Floor
Jl. Teluk Betung No. 43 Jakarta 10230, Indonesia
Telephone: +62-21.314.09.82
Fax: +62-21.315.08.86
E-mail: nelse@royalindo.com; andang@royalindo.com

Financial and business media are welcome to display their publications during the Annual Meeting at the media center and publications display area at BICC. There will be a handling fee of $1,000 per title. Please be advised that only 500 copies of each title can be displayed and distributed during the Annual Meeting.

Media wishing to send publications should contact the official cargo handler for the Annual Meeting:

Andi Mulyadi
PT. VISSASA PARAMA ÑATI
Bandara Benda Permai Blok A16
Jl. Raya Perancis No. 68, Tangerang 15000
Phone (62-21) 707 673 32 - 55910593
Mobile: (62) 812 8404 335
Fax: (62-21) 559 107 93
E-mail: vissasa@cbn.net.id; andi@vissasa.com

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 Bali and the delivery of publications to the media center and the publications display center at BICC.

Guidelines on the display and distribution of external publications will be strictly implemented.

Media queries on the Annual Meeting may be addressed to Ms. Omana Nair, Head, Media and Communications Unit, at onair@adb.org or at tel. no. (632) 632-5877.