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Spotlight |
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News
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Tadao
Chino Announces Resignation as President of ADB
On 31 August, Mr. Tadao
Chino announced that he will resign as President of the Asian
Development Bank (ADB), effective 31 January 2005. Upon his
departure, Mr. Chino will have been President for six years, having
assumed office on 16 January 1999. Read the full story.
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ERO: New Office Opens, Former Resident Director General Retires
ERO's relocated office (Rahmhofstrasse
2-4, D-60313 Frankfurt) was officially opened on 15 October by Managing
Director General Young Hoi Lee. On the same occasion ERO Resident Director
General Yuejiao Zhang celebrated her farewell to ADB, before leaving to
Beijing for her retirement.
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In her farewell speech, Ms Zhang said that her six years with ADB have
provided her with a great opportunity to witness the tremendous changes in
the Asian countries and to see the growing role of ADB as an important
partner to Asian economies in this period of changes.
Read
Managing
Director Young Hoi Lee's speech held on the occasion.
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Philippe Benedic Appointed as New Resident Director General of ADB European Representative Office
The President of the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) has approved the appointment of Philippe Benedic as Resident
Director General, European Representative Office (ERO). Mr. Benedic
assumed various key positions with ADB as Senior Advisor to the Director
General, West Asia Agricultural and Social Sectors Department and to the
Director General, Mekong Department.
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Prior to ADB, he worked for the
Agence Francaise de Developpement Group (AFD) where he served both at
headquarters and in several resident missions as country director,
including in South East Asia. He has also been executive director for
several commercial banks and a member of Central Bank Credit Committees
abroad. |
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ADB Releases 2nd Draft of Public Communication Policy
Following
extensive external consultations and a recent interdepartmental
review, a revised consultation draft of the new Public
Communications Policy has been posted on ADB's web
site. Comments are invited from the public until 24
November.
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Anticorruption and Governance Policies Undergo Implementation Review
ADB is reviewing the implementation of its Governance
and Anticorruption Policies to improve the effectiveness
of ADB-assisted activities in developing countries.
Visit the Anticorruption and Governance Review website.
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Poverty
Remains a Major Challenge Despite Asia's High Growth
Although Asia has made remarkable achievements in fighting
poverty, 1.9 billion people, or 60% of developing Asia's
population, still live on less than $2 a day, according
to a report released on 24 August by the ADB. Full
story.
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Action Plan for Reform Agenda Launched
ADB launched an action plan for a major reform agenda to make the institution a more "effective, dynamic and results-driven catalyst for poverty reduction and prosperity" in Asia and the Pacific.
In a speech to staff, management and the Board of Directors, ADB President Tadao Chino appealed to ADB personnel to nurture and institutionalize a results-focused orientation in which everyone - and the organization itself - is held accountable. Full story. |
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ADB Reform Agenda web site launched on 27 September 2004
The site will help keep external audiences informed about the objectives and progress being made in the Reform Agenda. A special intranet is also under development for staff.
Regional
Cooperation Can Help Boost Nutrition for Asia's Poor,
ADB VP Tells Delhi Forum
But to succeed will take "initiative, leadership, commitment, and resources, and the combined effort of all," ADB Vice President Geert van der Linden said.
Read the full story and speech.
New ADB Country Program for Afghanistan
ADB is planning to extend $600 million in assistance to Afghanistan over the next three years, according to a Country Strategy and Program (CSPU) Update for 2004-2006 endorsed by ADB's Board of Directors.
Read the full story and report.
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In Brief  Top
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Italy
Sets Up EUR2 Million ADB Grant Fund
The Government of Italy has agreed to set up a EUR2 million(US$2.48
million) Italian Cooperation Fund for Technical Assistance
at ADB.
Spain Cofinances Research for Town-Based Urbanization Strategy
for PRC
ADB is helping the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) develop a town-based urbanization strategy, through a technical assistance (TA) grant approved for US$750,000. The Government of Spain is cofinancing $500,000 of the grant amount, and the Government is contributing $250,000 equivalent toward the TA's total cost of $1 million.
Denmark Contributes $300,000 to Rural Development and Drought Mitigation Project in Balochistan
ADB has approved a technical assistance (TA) grant to prepare a project to reduce rural poverty and mitigate the impact of drought in the Pakistan province of Balochistan approved for $600,000. The grant will be equally cofinanced by the Government of Denmark and ADB.
UK
Government Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund Allows
for Financing of Various Technical Assistance Grants
The
following Technical Assistance grants financed by the
Poverty Reduction Cooperation
Fund of the government of the United Kingdom were
recently approved by ADB:
Visit
the Poverty Reduction Cooperation
Fund website for more information, including a full
list of funded programs.
UK Funds Sustainable Urban Development Project in India's North Eastern Region
ADB has approved a US$1 million technical assistance (TA) grant to prepare a project to upgrade urban infrastructure in the North Eastern region of India. The grant is funded by the Government of the United Kingdom.
Netherlands Finances Study on Poverty Impact of Regional Economic Integration in the GMS
ADB will study the impact of regional economic integration in reducing poverty in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) through a technical assistance (TA) grant approved for US$750,000. The TA, financed by the National Poverty Reduction Strategies Fund, established by the Government of the Netherlands, will determine how to manage increased connectivity between GMS countries to make sure it has a significant positive impact on the economic and social status of the poor.
UK Finances Help to Improve Public Finances for Sustainable Growth in Sikkim, India
ADB will help to promote sustainable growth in the State of Sikkim, India, by designing measures to improve public finances, through a technical assistance (TA) grant approved for US$600,000. The TA, financed by the Government of the United Kingdom, will adopt a five-pronged approach to reforming Sikkim's fiscal situation.
Finland Replenishes Cooperation Fund Focusing on Environment
The Government of Finland has agreed to make additional contributions to ADB's Finnish Technical Assistance Grant Fund over the next three years totaling $4.47 million equivalent.
Spain
Cofinances Planned Project to Help Protect Hunan, PRC,
from Flash Floods
ADB
is planning a project to help protect the province of
Hunan, the People's Republic of China (PRC), from flash
floods, through a technical assistance (TA) grant approved
for US$700,000. The TA, cofinanced by the Government
of Spain, will assist the Government in reviewing, assessing,
and identifying cost-effective flood protection measures
in 36 high priority areas along the four rivers of Hunan
province - Li, Xiang, Yuan, and Zi.
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Events in EuropeTop
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Countries
of Greater Mekong Subregion and Europe Explore Collaboration
Hosted
by ADB, the forum brought together representatives of
European governments, business, and civil society with
ministers and officials from the countries of the Greater
Mekong Subregion (GMS) from 27-29 June in Paris. Read
the full
story and get information on ADB's
GMS program.
ERO Asia Forum on Financial Sector Reforms in China
Tuesday, 26 October 2004, CongressCenter Messe, Frankfurt.
View the presentations.
Seminar on Short and Medium Term Growth Perspectives in Asia
With ADB Chief Economist Ifzal Ali on
- 25 November 2004 in Stockholm and
- 26 November 2004 in Frankfurt
For more information, please contact cmolitor@adb.org
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New PublicationsTop
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Key Indicators of
Developing Asian and Pacific Countries 2004
is the 35th
edition of this flagship annual statistical data book
of ADB. This edition includes a special chapter on Poverty
in Asia: Measurement, Estimates, and Prospects. The
book is available and for sale at $40.00 per copy, including
postage. To order your copy, write to adbpub@adb.org.
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Asian
Development Review, Vol. 21, No. 1
The Asian Development Review is a professional journal for disseminating the results of economic and development research carried out by staff and resource persons of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Review stresses policy and operational relevance of development issues rather than the technical aspects of economics and other social sciences.
Micro Success Story? Transformation of Nongovernment Organizations into Regulated Financial Institutions examines the ownership structure, expectations, and achievements of microfinance institutions that have been established by transforming nongovernment organizations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
More ADB
publications at http://www.adb.org/Publications/default.asp
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