 Afghanistan: Rebuilt Roads Accelerate Economic Progress
Over the past 7 years, repair and upgrade of Afghanistan's roads focused on the 2,700 kilometers 'Ring Road' highway system and connecting roads to neighboring countries. By 2007, $475 million ADF funding have been approved to rebuild 1,300 kilometers. ADB also administers a $100 million grant from Canada, Japan and Kuwait for road repair.
Bangladesh: Clean Fuel Cuts Pollution and Boosts Income
Being available for over 25 years, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has finally taken off in Bangladesh's metropolis Dhaka through an ADF project. Urban pollution has been strongly reduced and income of rickshaw drivers has risen substantially due to the low price of CNG.
 Cambodia: School Building Opens New Economic Opportunities
Education is key to open new economic opportunities. Since 2005, 215 lower secondary schools and 14 upper secondary schools have been constructed with ADF support. Schools also provide community-based skills training opportunities in underserved areas.
Nepal: Expanded Water Supply and Sanitation in Rural Areas
The ADF project provided safe water to about 40 districts in the Far Western, Mid-Western, and Eastern development regions of Nepal. The project financed approximately 1,500 simple, gravity-fed water supply systems and 900 low-cost latrines. It also supported community education campaigns on hygiene and sanitation. More than 670,000 people living in poor, remote areas of Nepal benefited from the project.
Central Asia: Improved Regional Connectivity
Completed in 2007, the Almaty-Bishkek Regional Road Rehabilitation Project improved the main arterial road between these two key Central Asian cities. Traffic volumes have increased by 25%, travel times are reduced by at least 50% from 5-6 to 2-3 hours, and exports from the Kyrgyz Republic to Kazakhstan have increased by 160% between 1998 and 2007. Lake Issyk kul, the key Central Asian tourist destination in the Kyrgyz Republic, has benefited through significant investment in accommodation and services, demonstrated by the one million tourists in 2007, a 50% increase over 2005.
2008 Asian Development Outlook: Presentations in Europe, 2-7 April
ADB's annual economic forecasts for developing Asia-Pacific countries will be presented on 2 April in Brussels, 4 April in Madrid and 7 April in Frankfurt. The flagship publication will be posted on ADB website on 2 April.
Seed Money for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Asia-Pacific
ADB participates in a new facility to provide seed capital for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects amid growing energy demand and high oil prices in the Asia-Pacific region. The Seed Capital Assistance Facility, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and ADB, will be funded by a $4.2 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
 Poverty Reduction in the New Asia and Pacific: Key Challenges of Inclusive Growth
At the Forum on Inclusive Growth held in Manila on 8 October 2007, 150 participants from developing Asian and Pacific countries and their partners highlighted that ADB can make a difference focusing on areas where markets and development policies could not significantly reduce disparities. The paper summarizes the discussion and outlines ADB's future role to disseminate knowledge and provide development finance to the region.
ADB Prices US$1 Billion 3-Year Global Bond Issue
The Asian Development Bank returned to the U.S. dollar bond market with the pricing of a $1 billion three-year global benchmark bond issue, proceeds of which will be part of the bank's ordinary capital resources used in non-concessional operations.
Independent Report Gives ADB High Marks for Accountability
ADB has been ranked second among 30 influential organizations assessed in the 2007 Global Accountability Report*, analyzing organizations according to four dimensions of accountability: transparency, participation, evaluation, and complaint and response mechanisms. The report is published by One World Trust, a non governmental organization based in the United Kingdom.
 ADB and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Strengthen Partnership
President Kuroda met with His Highness the Aga Khan in Aiglemont, France on 30 January and signed a memorandum of understanding between ADB and AKDN. The cooperation agreement will help strengthen partnership to support community development and poverty alleviation.
Nepal's Education Reforms to Meet Demands of Expanding Economy
Under the "Education for All" program, Nepal's school system will be further improved. The European Commission will provide a €6 million grant ($8.7 million), and ADB a $8 million grant to support capacity development activities.
Viet Nam: France and ADB Cofinance Rural Development Project
Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) is providing a Euro 40 million loan ($58 million) and a Euro 1 million grant to cofinance the Integrated Rural Development Sector Project in the Central Provinces of Viet Nam. ADB has approved a $90 million loan for the project.
Norway Contributes NOK60 Million to ADB's Multi-Donor Trust Funds
As the second contributor after Australia, Norway contributes NOK60 million ($11.28 million) for 2007-2009 to the ADB multi-donor trust funds under the Water Financing Partnership Facility (WFPF) and the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility (CEFPF).
Greater Mekong Subregion: Sweden and ADB Help Set Up Regional Power Market
Sweden and ADB are helping to set up the institutional framework and implementing arrangements for regional power trading in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
Norway Contributes Further to ADB's Governance Cooperation Fund
Norway is contributing an additional $920,000 to ADB's multi-donor Governance Cooperation Fund (GCF) to promote good governance policies in Asia. Norway joined GCF initially with a $2 million grant, followed by Denmark with a $1.35 million grant, and Ireland with a $1 million grant.
Technical Assistance: Cofinancing from European Member Countries
From November 2007 to January 2008, ADB's European member countries contributed $19.4 million grants to finance technical assistance projects: Austria $1 million, Denmark $0.6 million, Finland $1.7 million, Luxembourg $0.7 million, Spain $1.4 million, Sweden $10 million, Switzerland $0.3 million, and United Kingdom $3.7 million.
Greater Mekong Subregion: Environment Ministers Seek Support to Combat Climate Change
Environment Ministers from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) invited development partners to help the region achieve its ambitious targets for improved environmental and natural resources management. In the Joint Ministerial Statement issued in Vientiane, 29 January, Ministers highlighted their vision of "Environment for Development".
ADB Consults on Safeguard Policy Update
On 12-13 February, ADB consulted with government officials and civil society in Indonesia to get feedback on the proposed update of its safeguard policies, the latest in a string of similar workshops across Asia. The Update will further improve the effectiveness of ADB safeguard policies and enhance their relevance to client's needs and new lending modalities.
ADB Exploring Future Carbon Fund, Committed to Addressing Climate Change
At the 13th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, ADB Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development emphasized ADB's commitment to help its developing member countries cope with climate change challenges. Supported by $152 million, the recently launched Asia Pacific Carbon Fund (APCF) will support clean energy projects and promote carbon credits trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
Climate Change and Governance Policies Remain Concerns for Pacific Countries
Climate change presents dramatic challenges, including the risk that some Pacific islands may become uninhabitable. ADB will, therefore, review its Pacific Strategy (2005-2009) to emphasize environmental management and help face climate change challenges through adaptation and mitigation initiatives.
ADB Expands its Operations in South Caucasus and Central Asia
ADB is expanding its operations in South Caucasus and Central Asia, and will open new offices in Armenia, Georgia and Turkmenistan. The offices, as well as the one in Azerbaijan, will be coordinated from a regional hub in Istanbul. ADB already has resident missions in other Central Asian countries: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
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2007 Asian Water Development Outlook
The newly published 2007 Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) highlights that inadequate or inappropriate water governance, not physical scarcity of water, will be the likely reason of future water crisis in Asia, if any. ADB supports the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF), an independent institutional network helping improve access to water and sanitation, protect river basins, and reduce people's vulnerability to water-related disasters. |
ADB's Urban Community of Practice: Learning from Others
The ADB Urban Community of Practice (CoP) facilitates knowledge sharing among urban development specialists. One of the latest presenters was the Director General for International Strategy and Development of the Madrid City Council. ADB has developed Communities of Practice in other priority sectors and themes such as Education, Energy, Governance and Water. |
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Urgent Actions Needed for Rural Poor to Benefit from Economic Growth in Asia
A large number of rural people have been left behind economic progress in Asia and the Pacific. Therefore, urgent policies and actions are needed to ensure that rural poor are included in the development process, according to Rural Development Outcomes and Drivers, a publication released by ADB in December 2007. |
Asia Economic Monitor, Dec. 2007: Robust Growth maintained, but Downside Risks Rise
Economic growth in emerging East Asia may ease from 8.5% in 2007 to 8.0% in 2008 as expansion in large industrialized economies moderates, says the December 2007 issue of ADB's Asia Economic Monitor (AEM). Although there are no signs of widespread problems in emerging East Asia, downside risks to regional economies and financial markets have recently increased. |
Asia Bond Monitor, Nov. 2007: Emerging East Asian Bond Markets Resilient, But Risks Loom
Strong economic growth and improved financial systems, along with limited exposure to U.S. subprime mortgages, have helped curb spillover effects in emerging East Asian economies. However, risks loom, says the November 2007 edition of Asia Bond Monitor (ABM). |
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Asia Pacific International Comparison Program: Purchasing Power Parities and Real Expenditures
ADB presents final estimates of Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) of currencies within the Asia-Pacific International Comparison Program (ICP). The 2005 ICP covers 146 economies, divided into five regions plus an additional "region" monitored by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Statistical Office of the European Commission. |
Recent ADB Management Speeches
President Haruhiko Kuroda
Vice-President C. Lawrence Greenwood Jr.
Vice-President Ursula Schäfer-Preuss
Managing Director General Rajat Nag
For other speeches, please visit the Speeches section of ADB's website.
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Portals on the ADB website
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Regular ADB Publications
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Contact
Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Representative Office
Rahmhofstrasse 2 - 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Telephone: (+49-69) 2193 6400, E-mail: adbero@adb.org
Philippe Benedic, Resident Director General, pbenedic@adb.org
Sophia S. Y. Ho, Deputy Resident Director, ssyho@adb.org
Michael Hasenpusch, External Relations (Consultant), mhasenpusch@adb.org
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