Welcome remarks by Ashok Lavasa, ADB Vice President for Private Sector Operations and Public–Private Partnerships, at the ADB–Uzbekistan Business Opportunities Seminar, 19 May 2022
Good morning distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen.
Welcome to ADB’s business opportunity event. I am particularly pleased to open this forum, as it is the first of its kind organized in Uzbekistan. It is also the first business opportunities seminar that is conducted face to face after over two years of virtual events.
Today, we have a diverse audience comprised of government officials, consultants, contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, representatives from civil society, and academia.
We also have participants from a range of embassies and trade commissions. I would like to particularly acknowledge their efforts in promoting this event through their business outreach.
I would like to thank all participants for your interest in doing business with ADB and our member countries.
We rely on quality business partners to deliver development results on the ground.
This reliance has not been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indeed, we need to intensify our collaboration to respond speedily and effectively to the dual health and economic crises facing our member countries.
Let me start by sharing with you how ADB swiftly stepped up its support to its member countries in responding to the pandemic.
ADB and COVID-19 Pandemic
Recognizing the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its developing member countries, in April 2020, ADB announced a $20 billion package to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries.
As part of the response, ADB engaged with the international business community to connect with the global supply market for emergency medical products. We also facilitated emergency procurement of critical products for the most affected DMCs, including Uzbekistan and other countries in central Asia.
Since March 2020, ADB undertook several procurement responses to support global efforts to combat the pandemic:
- We implemented a flexible and agile process for emergency procurement
- We enhanced our hands-on operational procurement and logistics support for our developing member countries
- We engaged in market research on critical medical goods and health expertise
- We increased our support for electronic procurement in developing member countries
- We developed new guidance materials and conducted awareness sessions on the adoption of COVID-19-safe practices in project implementation.
Furthermore, ADB made a conscious decision to go beyond its normal role in overseeing procurement by borrowers by undertaking its own direct procurement of critical medical supplies and other goods as an immediate response to the urgent needs of its developing member countries.
In addition, ADB provided counter-cyclical support as well as policy-based loans to support its clients through this difficult period. $1.8 billion has also been provided to the private sector to rejuvenate trade and supply chains.
Strategy 2030 – building back better
Beyond COVID-19-related challenges, ADB continues to implement its Strategy 2030 with a focus on green, climate-resilient, inclusive growth, as well as gender equality and a greater role for private sector operations.
Strategy 2030 recognizes that our partners need more than finance – they want access to the best knowledge and technologies available to achieve quality and inclusive growth.
A hallmark of our Strategy 2030 is the vision of integrated, multi-sector solutions to meet the differentiated and increasingly sophisticated needs of our developing member countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has only reinforced this. To achieve our Strategy 2030 ambitions, our partners need access to the best quality contractors and consultants, able to work across sectors and support integrated solutions.
We will need partners to support us in developing differentiated approaches and providing customized solutions tailored to the specific local circumstances in each of our developing member countries.
We will continue looking for skills and expertise to support gender equality and to address climate change.
We will be looking for suppliers and contractors who can provide quality and value-for-money goods, works and services by leveraging advanced technologies and innovation at every available opportunity.
ADB highly values our collaboration with you to support our developing member countries in their post-pandemic efforts and in building a better future for the people of Asia and the Pacific.
I hope very much that you will find the information presented in this forum of assistance to you in doing business with ADB.
We look forward to working closely with you.
Thank you very much.