Asia 2015: Promoting Growth, Ending Poverty
Closing Statement by
Haruhiko Kuroda
President
Asian Development Bank
At the Asia 2005 Conference
7 March 2006
Lancaster House, London
Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
Let me begin by thanking Hilary Benn for his kind hospitality and the Government of the
UK for hosting this event. I would also like to thank all of you for your active participation
in the Conference. The keynote speakers, session chairs, and distinguished panelists
have done an exemplary job of drawing out the themes of this Conference and
identifying alternative courses of action for ending poverty in Asia.
I am pleased that we have come together here in London. Doing so has helped re-focus
the attention of the international community on the importance of continued—and
increased—assistance to developing Asia. Continued financial and other support for our
development work is essential for reducing poverty, achieving the MDGs, and fueling
broad-based economic and social development in the region.
This Conference has shown that Governments in developing Asia are implementing key
policy reforms, improving regulatory frameworks, and strengthening internal governance
and institutions. They, along with the private sector and civil society, are seizing
opportunities and achieving unprecedented development performance.
The Conference has also reaffirmed that there is potential for achieving even greater
development effectiveness in Asia. Asia is clearly a region where development works.
People in developing Asia no longer just aspire to development—they expect it. Asia
represents the world’s best hope for meeting the MDGs.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Using development assistance effectively in the fight against poverty requires
partnerships. There is a growing interdependence between developing Asia and the
global economy and the global community. Economic and financial cooperation and
integration within the region are accelerating. Continued progress in the fight against
poverty in developing Asia depends on creating and nurturing stronger partnerships and
closer cooperation. Such partnerships must go beyond “donor-client relationships” to
involve inter-government cooperation, joint public-private sector investment,
engagement with civil society, and cooperation among development finance institutions
under the framework of the Paris Declaration agreed to in 2005.
We have emphasized the need to address the infrastructure financing gap in Asia.
Using infrastructure to integrate national economies into regional and sub-regional
economies will expand markets and create opportunities for increasing the scale and
scope of economic activity. Large and efficient infrastructure and modern financial
networks that integrate economies will reduce transaction costs, facilitate the exchange
of goods and services, provide capital, contribute to higher productivity, and enhance
the mobility of factors of production. This represents a priority area for development
planning and development assistance in Asia.
We recognize that Government budgets and official development assistance alone
simply cannot meet the development needs of the region. We must find ways to engage
the private sector to assist developing Asia in meeting its investment requirements.
The
private sector can also provide intellectual and technical expertise and assist the
development of economically productive human resources. A healthy, competitive
private sector is critical to national and regional growth and development—and to
ending poverty.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Asian Development Bank, in partnership with others, will continue to be at the
forefront of collective efforts to sustain growth and end poverty in Asia.
In my opening remarks yesterday morning, I informed you that ADB is strengthening its
strategic partnerships with the UNDP and the World Bank. During the infrastructure
thematic session, I highlighted several initiatives we are launching to improve energy
efficiency.
I would also like to mention some other areas in which we are moving forward.
First, ADB has introduced new and innovative approaches to finance investments.
Second, ADB is finalizing its approach for evolving and enhancing its operations in
middle-income countries. We are working closely with the other multilateral
development banks and expanding joint analytical, technical assistance, and advisory
work in middle-income countries.
Third, under its Water Financing Program, ADB expects to build on an already strong
pipeline of planned projects to substantially increase ADB’s water investments in the
coming years.
And finally, ADB will introduce its second corporate-wide Medium Term Strategy to
guide planning and operations during the period from 2006 to 2008.
In all of these initiatives, ADB will draw upon the important conclusions and
understandings reached at this Conference to improve operational design and
implementation.
As we prepare to leave the Conference, and return to our regular duties and
responsibilities, we must reflect on how we can work together to transform our vision of
ending poverty in Asia into reality. That vision sees developing Asia as a thriving
regional economy that is well-integrated internally and with the international economy.
That vision sees all countries and citizens as having the opportunity to share in the
benefits of economic growth and improvements in the quality of life.
Achieving this vision will require our shared commitment, support, and hard work. I
aspire to that vision and am confident it will indeed become reality.
In closing, allow me to once again thank Hilary Benn and the Government of the United
Kingdom and its Department for International Development for the excellent
arrangements and for hosting this Conference. I would also like to thank the organizers
of this Conference and the many staff from World Bank, DFID, and ADB and other
agencies that have helped make this a successful event.
I wish you a pleasant and safe trip home.
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