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| Spotlight: ADB CLEAN ENERGY POLICY |
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ADB Encourages Greater Use of Renewable and More Efficient Energies
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced it will increasingly support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in its Asia-Pacific member countries. To avoid potential negative economic and environmental impact of burning fossil fuel, ADB will focus its interventions on developing an enabling environment-policy, regulatory, tariff, institutional. A new ADB website provides further information.
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The following energy-related initiatives have also been recently launched by ADB:
ADB plans to allocate US$1 billion a year for the second phase of its Energy Efficiency Initiative (EEI). This will further help develop renewable energy and energy efficiency investment projects in Asia-Pacific countries.
To address climate change and energy security issues, ADB's new Carbon Market Initiative (CMI) will help developing member countries achieve sustainable development and assist developed countries to meet their emission reduction commitments. The CMI includes a co-financing facility, a carbon credit marketing program and technical support for projects eligible to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol.
ADB's Clean Energy Week held in Manila Headquarters from 20 to 22 June was ADB's first "carbon neutral" conference, i.e. all activities causing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, such as air travel of participants, have been compensated for by investments in renewable energy or energy efficiency projects in Asia that lead to an overall CO2 reduction.
During Clean Energy Week, major players in Asian energy policies-including representatives of governments, development partners and the private sector-shared experience on energy issues and climate change in the region.
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| News |
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ADB Launches Medium-Term Strategy II to Strengthen Poverty-Reduction Impact
ADB has launched its Medium-Term Strategy II (2006-2008) to strengthen the poverty-reducing impact of its assistance. It will focus on five priorities: (i) catalyzing investment, (ii) strengthening inclusiveness, (iii) promoting regional cooperation and integration, (iv) managing the environment, and (v) improving governance and preventing corruption.
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Ireland joins as ADB's 17th European Member Country
On 25 July 2006, the Republic of Ireland became the 66th Member of ADB as the 17th European member country. European member countries account for 15.7 percent of voting power within ADB, an amount equivalent to both Japan and the US shares.
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| In Brief |
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President Kuroda with earthquake victims at a temporary shelter.
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Indonesia Earthquake Relief Assistance: ADB Coordinating with Partners
ADB is working closely with the Government of Indonesia and other development partners, including the World Bank, United Nations agencies and Japan Bank for International Cooperation, on assessing the most effective ways to assist people affected by the 27 May earthquake.
ADB has offered US$ 60 million to help meet the immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction needs. |
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ADB President to Speak at Asia-Europe Business Forum, Helsinki
President Haruhiko Kuroda will participate in the Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF) in Helsinki, Finland, on 10 September. Mr. Rufus Yerxa, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization (WTO), and President Kuroda will participate in a plenary panel session on"Trade Policy Trends"Serving the Business Interests? "Multilateralism vs. Regionalism".
AEBF is jointly organized with the sixth bi-annual Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM 6), a forum bringing together Heads of State of the 25 EU and 13 Asian countries, and the European Commission.
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Avian Flu: Senior Officials Discuss Priorities for Central Asia
Senior officials from Central Asia and neighboring countries met in June with development agencies to discuss global strategies to improve preparedness against avian influenza and potential flu pandemic. The conference held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, also presented findings from a Global Data Gathering Exercise that assessed preparedness at national, regional and global levels. |
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Fighting the Spread of HIV/AIDS in Infrastructure Sectors
On the occasion of the International AIDS Conference held in Toronto on 13 - 18 August, development institutions announced a "Joint Initiative by Development Agencies for the Infrastructure Sectors to Mitigate the Spread of HIV/AIDS". Improved communication and major construction sites facilitate the spread of HIV/AIDS, but the construction workplace also offers opportunities for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment interventions. |
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ADB Issues US$1 Billion Bond
On 20 June, ADB returned to the US Dollar global bond market with a US$1 billion 10-year global benchmark bond issue. The issue was conducted via Lead Managers Daiwa, DrKW, and UBS. A syndicate group was formed with Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Mitsubishi Securities and Nomura.
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| Cofinancing |
European partners contributed significantly to recent cofinancing with ADB, for example:
- European Commission, € 4.6 million (US$ 6 million) to support education reform in India. Added to recent cofinancing in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka , this brings the total grant cofinancing from the EC to US$ 155 million, with a further US$ 60 million under processing.
- Germany (KfW; GTZ) and United Kingdom, US$ 86.1 million for Second Rural Infrastructure Improvement in Bangladesh.
- Luxembourg, US$ 1.5 million for Financial Sector Development in Asia and the Pacific.
- Netherlands, US$ 8.74 million to help rebuild Tsunami-affected areas in Sri Lanka.
- Sweden, US$ 8.17 million for 11 projects to fight HIV/AIDS in Asian countries.
- United Kingdom, US$ 15 million for project processing and capacity building in India.
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| News from ADB |
ADB European Representative Office to Celebrate Ten-Year Anniversary
ADB European Representative Office (ERO) will celebrate its 10th anniversary in November this year. ADB opened its European office in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1996 to better liaise with governments and public and private partners from European member countries. The event will take place in Berlin and will include an Asia Forum on key challenges and opportunities in Asia and the Pacific.
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New External Relations Officer at ADB European Representative Office
Axel Klein has joined the ADB European Representative Office (ERO) in Frankfurt, Germany as new External Relations Officer to help liaise with European partners and media. Axel Klein has a broad experience as a journalist and public relations professional. He previously worked in one of Europe's largest communications companies (see below).
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| Resources |
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2006 Key Indicators: Measuring Policy Effectiveness in Health and Education
The 2006 Key Indicators of Developing Asian and Pacific Countries is the 37th edition of this ADB flagship annual statistical data book. A special chapter emphasizes that many Asia-Pacific countries might not be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals related to education and health. |
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Rehabilitation and Management of Tanks in India
Water tanks have been the main source of irrigation in many parts of India for centuries. The report examines rehabilitation and management of traditional water facilities under different scenarios. |
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Workers' Remittance Flows in Southeast Asia
The report examines the rapidly increasing remittance flows from a regional perspective. It provides new inputs to better understand recent trends and identify policies to leverage migrants' remittances for development purposes. |
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Asia Economic Monitor
ADB's Office of Regional Economic Integration publishes semi-annually the Asia Economic Monitor (AEM) which focuses on the financial and banking sector in East Asian countries.
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Forthcoming: 2006 Asian Development Outlook (ADO) Update
ADB's key economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) Update, is published by the "Economic and Research Department".
In 2006, the Main ADO report was published on 6 April and the ADO Update will be available on 6 September.
Early information can be obtained by subscribing to ADB News Alerts. |
ADB Online Media Center redesigned
The ADB Media Center has been redesigned and navigation has been made easier. The ADB Online Media Center holds a wide range of information on key economic reports, press releases, photographs, Management speeches and coverage of major conferences. It also offers free notification via e-mail about new information related to user-selected areas of interest (News Alerts).
Subscribe to News Alerts.
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Recent ADB Management Speeches
For additional speeches, please visit the Speeches Section on ADB Website. |
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To Receive Future ERO E-Newsletters
If you received this newsletter in your e-mail and would like to subscribe, follow this link or send a blank e-mail to: adbero@adb.org with "subscribe" in the subject line.
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To change your e-mail address, simply unsubscribe your old e-mail address and send a blank e-mail to: adbero@adb.org with "Subscribe" in the subject line. To unsubscribe, follow this link or send a blank e-mail to: adbero@adb.org with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Feedback and Suggestions
Please send feedback and suggestions to ADB European Representative Office:
Rahmhofstrasse 2 - 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Email:adbero@adb.org; website: www.adb.org/ero
Phone: +49 69 21 93 64 00; Fax +49 69 21 93 64 44
Contact Persons
Resident Director General, Philippe Benedic, pbenedic@adb.org
Deputy Resident Director, Sophia S. Y. Ho, ssyho@adb.org, +49 69 21 93 64 14
External Relations Officer, Axel Klein, aklein@adb.org, +49 69 21 93 64 13 |
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