President Masatsugu Asakawa participated in the 34th Pacific Developing Member Countries (DMCs) Governors and ADB Management Meeting on 2 May at the 57th ADB Annual Meeting in Tbilisi. In his opening remarks, the President reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to support the Pacific DMCs in addressing challenges for sustainable development. and he highlighted the need to enhance fiscal resilience through tax reforms and better debt management, strengthen public-private partnerships, and foster regional cooperation.

Representatives from the Pacific subregions delivered statements on their unique development challenges and priorities: Mark Brown, Prime Minister and ADB Governor for Cook Islands (Polynesian subregion); Mckinnie Dentana, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and ADB Alternate Governor for Solomon Islands (Melanesian subregion); and Teuea Toatu, Vice President and Minister for Finance and Economic Development and ADB Governor for the Republic of Kiribati (Micronesian subregion).

Lautimui‘a Uelese Va‘ai, Minister of Finance and ADB Governor for Samoa, and the meeting's Chairperson, summarized the governors’ statements focusing on climate finance, private sector development, and financial services; and also addressing issues on regional cooperation and ADB’s new operating model. VP Scott Morris moderated the meeting, and in his closing remarks, acknowledged the development priorities, concerns, and recommendations raised by the governors at regional and national levels.

At the Georgia Seminar Day held on 2 May, President Masatsugu Asakawa stated that Georgia truly embodies the theme of the meeting, “Bridge to the Future,” as the country is one of the region’s leaders in technological innovation and a strong and important connector between Europe and Asia. Georgia’s Minister of Finance and Chair of the Board of Governors and ADB Governor Lasha Khutsishvili and Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development and ADB Alternate Governor Levan Davitashvili also participated in the event.

President Masatsugu Asakawa on 1 May visited some of the venues in Tbilisi, Georgia where the 57th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors will be held from today to 5 May. Over 3,600 participants have already registered. See photos on ADB's Flickr. Read the news release. Visit the Annual Meeting website and schedule of events. 

ADB’s significant progress under the MDB’s Evolution Agenda was highlighted by the US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen during a meeting with President Masatsugu Asakawa on his mission to Washington DC, from 16-20 April. Secretary Yellen highlighted ADB’s leadership as a premier development institution for Asia and the Pacific and offered congratulations on key advancements such as its progressive climate ambitions and push towards gender diversity amongst staff and on the Executive Board. At a meeting with the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Podesta, President Asakawa reaffirmed a shared commitment to decarbonization, and underscored the need for scaling up climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

ADB and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding, renewing their mutual interest in achieving sustainable, balanced, inclusive growth and poverty reduction in Asia and the Pacific. The scaling-up private sector operations and progress under the MDB Reform Agenda were highlighted during the MDB leaders meeting with the G20 Independent Expert Group. President Asakawa also convened bilateral meetings with key senior officials from ADB members, including France, Indonesia, Italy, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Philippines, and Uzbekistan.

In his welcome remarks at the 2024 Asia and the Pacific Food Security Forum, President Asakawa emphasized the urgent need for global action, including stronger partnerships, to address food insecurity and transform food systems. He highlighted that ADB attaches high priority to these issues, as demonstrated by the $7.7 billion commitment in public and private sector support for food security during 2022-23, about 52% of the $14 billion food security support announced by ADB for 2022-25. Prior to the forum, the President met with World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain to discuss enhanced collaboration in addressing emergency humanitarian situations and scaling up ADB's program on nutrition security.

During the forum, ADB signed a cooperation agreement with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and a letter of intent with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development of India. The forum provided opportunities to discuss policy and financing priorities to accelerate food systems transformation leading to long-term food security in the region. Around 500 onsite and 1,000 online participants joined the forum held from 9 to 12 April in ADB headquarters. Read the news release.