Ashok Lavasa

VP Ashok Lavasa participated virtually in the panel session Achieving a Just Transition: Investments in Adaptation and Resilience in Emerging and Developing Economies at the Climate Investment Summit on 8 September 2021 in Copenhagen. He highlighted ADB’s innovative solutions and initiatives, including green financing vehicles and public-private partnership models that are supporting investments in climate adaptation and resilience. Amid growing fiscal constraints, VP Lavasa emphasized early policy engagement and private capital mobilization to accelerate global decarbonization leading toward a holistic societal, gender equal, economic, and environmental net-zero transition.

VP Ashok Lavasa, during his visit to Uzbekistan on 31 August-6 September 2021, reaffirmed ADB’s support for the country’s reform agenda and the private sector, including the development of PPPs. He met with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade, also ADB Governor, Sardor Umurzakov; and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, Jamshid Kuchkarov. VP Lavasa commended the government on its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the significant progress made in developing PPP projects, and supporting entrepreneurship in the country, particularly the SMEs. He discussed expanding private sector support to the agribusiness and healthcare sectors; and providing local currency financing solutions. He also met with senior officials of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group following his participation in IsDB's 2021 Annual Meeting where he joined panelists in the PPP Investment in the Post-COVID-19 Era session. Joined by Uzbekistan Resident Mission Country Director Cindy Malvicini, he also interacted with private sector partners to discuss business opportunities and ADB’s support of the enabling environment. Read the news release.

N. K. Singh, Chair of India’s 15th Finance Commission presented perspectives on fiscal federalism in India and discussed how it can be made more robust to face impending challenges, especially in the post-pandemic times, at a virtual forum held on 26 August 2021. VP Shixin Chen gave the welcome address, and VP Ashok Lavasa the special remarks. Other panelists that included South Asia Department Director General Kenichi Yokoyama, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department (SDCC) Director General Bruno Carrasco, and Deputy Chief Economist Joseph Ernest Zveglich discussed issues raised by Mr. Singh and their relevance to ADB’s support to India and other developing member countries. SDCC Chief Thematic Officer Xiaohong Yang moderated the panel discussion. Executive Director Sameer Kumar Khare gave the closing remarks. 

VP Ashok Lavasa on 12 August 2012 highlighted the importance of empowering women by eliminating barriers to finance at the launch of the Women's Finance Exchange (WFX), an  initiative of ADB's Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) to support financial institutions and women borrowers through tech-enabled solutions, digital support, and capacity building. VP Lavasa noted the seeding and development of women-owned and women-led businesses will help empower women to take control over resources and give them tools for life-long change. PSOD Director General Suzanne Gaboury underscored the importance of gender responsive financing across ADB's sovereign and private sector operations and fintech solutions for women's increased access to finance. More than 260 participants joined the event. ADB Private Sector Financial Institutions Division Director Christine Engstrom launched the WFX, and Chief of Gender of Equality Thematic Group, Samantha Hung, moderated a panel discussion. 

VP Ashok Lavasa on 7 July 2021 delivered the closing remarks at the Second SDG Dialogue, highlighting ADB’s continued commitment to helping countries finance the SDGs through partnerships with the private sector. The session highlighted initiatives such as ADB Ventures, AP3F, and new approaches such as SDG Accelerator Bonds, developed by the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility, that ADB is deploying to help countries achieve the SDGs. The panel included CEO and Chair of the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, Naina Batra, Managing Director of BlackRock Sustainable Investing Asia Pacific, Emily Woodland, Private Sector Operations Department Director General Suzanne Gaboury, and Southeast Asia Department Director General Ramesh Subramaniam, in an interactive dialogue on opportunities to steer private investment towards the SDGs.