Finance ministers, central bank governors, private sector representatives, development partners, academics, members of civil society, media, and the youth from the Asia and Pacific region started arriving today at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Manila, Philippines for the 51st Annual Meeting of ADB’s Board of Governors. Over 4,000 participants from across Asia, North America, and Europe are expected to attend the meeting from 3 to 6 May.
ADB President Mr. Takehiko Nakao expressed his deep gratitude to the Philippine government, and Finance Secretary and Chair of the Board of Governors, Mr. Carlos G. Dominguez, for hosting the ADB Annual Meeting with the theme “Linking People and Economies for Inclusive Development.”
Since last year’s Annual Meeting in Yokohama, Mr. Dominguez and Mr. Nakao met several times to discuss how the Philippine government and ADB can further strengthen partnership and operations, and on how the Annual Meeting in Manila can be more focused and substantive.
This is the 16th Annual Meeting held in Manila, with the last one in 2012. The meeting will examine global and regional issues affecting development in Asia and the Pacific. Last year in Yokohama, Mr. Dominguez mentioned that ADB should reinvent itself to further strengthen its support to developing member countries. Delegates and participants over the coming days will discuss ADB’s Strategy 2030 to “achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.”
