Government leaders - including Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors - as well as representatives from the private sector, academe, media, and civil society groups from around the world will gather in Spain from Saturday, 3 May to Tuesday, 6 May 2008, for the forty-first Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Some 3,000 participants are expected to attend the meeting, which will be held at the Institucion Ferial de Madrid (IFEMA) in Madrid, one of the most vibrant cities in Europe, steeped in culture and rich in history.

ADB is Asia's leading development institution and a center for knowledge in economics, development and regional integration. The Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for large numbers of member country officials to come together and undertake a host of formal and informal consultations that could help shape economic, financial and social policies and programs.

One of the highlights of ADB's Annual Meeting 2008 will be the discussions on ADB's Long-Term Strategic Framework covering 2008-2020.

Every effort is made to ensure that the Annual Meeting provides an effective venue for explaining to the public, directly or through media, the responsibilities, objectives and outcomes of the work of ADB. Media are cordially invited to cover the meeting and participate in all the seminars. Invitations will be sent by e-mail from January 2008. If you do not receive an invitation and would like to attend the meeting, please e-mail Micheline Millar at mmillar@adb.org or Gilda Nanquil at gnanquil@adb.org and we will ensure that you receive an invitation.

The Opening Session will be held at the IFEMA on Monday, 5 May 2008 at 10:30 a.m. Business Sessions will also be held in the IFEMA on Monday, 5 May and Tuesday, 6 May. The last Business Session will end at about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 6 May, followed by a press conference with the ADB President.

A detailed program of events is now available. (Only registered journalists with official badges will have access to the meetings and seminars).

A media briefing is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 3 May 2008 at 11:30 a.m. at the IFEMA to set the agenda and to brief journalists on key events during the Annual Meeting. The ADB President is expected to be present. The briefing will be followed by lunch.

Video and photographic coverage of the Opening Session at the IFEMA, on Monday, 5 May, will be open to accredited TV crews and photographers. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. Camera crews and photographers are advised to arrive by 9:45 a.m. to clear security. There will be an area designated for photographers and camera crews. Platforms will be installed for this purpose. Video and photographic coverage of the Business Sessions at IFEMA will also be permitted.

Online registration has now closed. Journalists wishing to attend can register at the North Convention Centre, IFEMA, when the Registration Desks open on 2 May 2008 at 7:30 a.m. The Registration Desks will be located at the IFEMA. Applicants will be asked to provide valid identification documents. Acceptable media credentials include those issued by local and national authorities, or a recognized professional association of journalists. If such credentials are not held, or are in question, it will be at the discretion of the ADB to determine whether access to the Annual Meeting can be granted.

Identification badges allowing access to sessions of the Board of Governors will be issued at the Registration Desks. You need to present your passport to claim your badge. Local media based in Spain may present other officially issued photographic identification documents. Registration Desks will be open daily from 2 May to 6 May. The badge should be worn at all times in meeting areas and at official events.

Please note that unless we are advised otherwise in writing, your name and position may be disclosed to other organizations through conference documentation for purposes of issuing invitations to other functions related to the Annual Meeting.

A fully equipped Media Center will be set up for journalists at the IFEMA. Staffed by ADB's Department of External Relations, it will have desk space for more than 100 journalists and booths for news agencies. The Media Center will be open daily from 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, 3 May, until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 6 May.

Full communication services will be available. Media are advised to bring their own notebook computers. Telephones will have computer link facilities for local as well as international calls. Internet services will be provided. All phone and fax services will be provided on a user-pay basis.

Closed-circuit television coverage of the Opening and Business Sessions will be provided at the Media Center. Information on press conferences and other events of interest will be posted on bulletin boards.

We would like to hyperlink your stories during the Annual Meeting to our web site. Please let us have your e-mail address (the editorial e-mail address in addition to your individual e-mail address).

Hotel bookings will be made through the registration page.

However, if you wish to pre-reserve your hotel accommodation, please book online through the direct link below: http://www.viajesiberiacongresos.net/41ADB/bookingc.html

or by contacting the congress organizer:

Viajes Iberia Congresos
C/ San Bernardo, 20 - 6º - 28015 Madrid - Spain
Telephone: +34 91 531 94 49
Fax: +34 91 296 37 32
E-mail: congresos.mad@viajesiberiacongresos.com

Financial and business media are welcome to display their publications during the Annual Meeting at the media center and publications display area at the IFEMA. There will be a handling fee of $1,000 per title. Please be advised that only 500 copies of each title can be displayed and distributed during the Annual Meeting.

Media wishing to send publications should contact the official cargo handler for the Annual Meeting:

Contact Person: Virginia Garcia
Operaciones - Operations
TRANSFEREX, S.A.
Tel. +34 91.554.12.02*
E-mail: VIRGINIA@transferex.com

All expenses for the shipment of publications to the Annual Meeting are for the account of media. Media are also responsible for customs clearance in Madrid and the delivery of publications to the media center and the publications display center in the IFEMA.

Guidelines on the display and distribution of external publications will be advised before end of January.

Media queries on the Annual Meeting may be addressed to Ms. Omana Nair, Head, Media and Communications Unit, at onair@adb.org or at telephone number (632) 632-5877.