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Press Conference Statement

By
Haruhiko Kuroda
President, Asian Development Bank

At the Media Briefing

4 May 2007
Kyoto International Convention Center, Japan

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

We are very pleased to be holding ADB's 40th Annual Meeting here, in Kyoto, at such a beautiful time of the year. This is the third Annual Meeting ADB has held in Japan, following Fukuoka in 1997 and Osaka in 1987.

This milestone anniversary year provides a good opportunity for us to take stock of how far the Asia and Pacific region has come over the past four decades. Overall, there is much to be proud of. The region has achieved impressive rates of growth and made substantial headway in reducing poverty. However, Asia still remains home to two thirds of the world's poor and this is something we must not lose sight of.

Other development challenges are also emerging, such as rising inequalities and increased pressure on the environment. And despite much progress, the gap between the rich and the poor is widening with hundreds of millions still living in poverty.

During this Annual Meeting, we will hear a lot about these and other important issues. As you know, the Eminent Persons Group, which I commissioned last year, has reported on a number of trends in the region and proposed a vision for Asia's future, as well as strategic direction for ADB to better serve its member countries. The report itself is both thoughtful and thought provoking. It will provide an important input into the review of ADB's Long Term Strategic Framework. I have already initiated this review internally, and our first consultation will be held tomorrow with a Governors' Seminar to discuss the report.

We recognize much needs to be done in Asia to alleviate poverty. Therefore, ADB's concessional lending window, the Asian Development Fund or ADF, is an important instrument for supporting these countries to attain the Millennium Development Goals. We will be holding a preparatory meeting for ADF X tomorrow, and we hope donors will agree to start negotiations later this year. ADF X, which covers the years 2009 to 2012, is the last replenishment that can meaningfully influence whether or not the MDGs are achieved by the target year 2015.

Being in Kyoto 10 years after the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, it is appropriate this year to have a special focus on energy and the environment, particularly with relation to climate change. We will be showcasing a number of initiatives under our Clean Energy and Environment Program, including the newly launched Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility, which will help developing Asian countries move toward the adoption of cleaner energy sources and technologies.

Regional cooperation and integration has always been an important part of ADB's work and I am pleased with how this has grown over the years. ADB will continue to provide finance and expertise to support and strengthen regional integration including a new facility to support these efforts.

We have a busy agenda over the next few days and I look forward to hearing the views of our governors and other stakeholders as we address the challenges facing the region. Once again, thank you for being here today. I now invite your questions.