Emma Xiaoqin Fan, who assumed office today as the new Regional Director of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office (PLCO) in Sydney, Australia, said she values the opportunity to enhance development effectiveness in the Pacific and to strengthen aid coordination in her new role.
“PLCO closely coordinates ADB’s operational activities in Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu in cooperation with those of our development partners,” said Ms. Fan. “The Sydney office also focuses on private sector development and financial sector development across ADB’s 14 Pacific developing member countries through the Private Sector Development Initiative, co-financed by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and the Pacific Business Investment Facility, cofinanced by Australia.”
Through the multi-donor Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility based at PLCO, ADB works with partners to increase coordination and to support capacity development, as well as undertaking policy dialogue in infrastructure sectors.
Emma Fan is a national of New Zealand. She holds a Doctoral degree in Economics from the Australian National University, Australia. She has more than 21 years of professional experience with nearly 14 years in ADB.
ADB’s Sydney office is the focal point for programming, processing, and administration of assistance in Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is ADB’s sector division for private sector development and financial sector development for the 14 Pacific developing member countries. PLCO’s location in Sydney enables ADB to work closely with key bilateral development partners including the governments of Australia and New Zealand, as well as multilateral institutions active in the region.
Among its activities, PLCO is assisting with energy and transport development projects in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the provision of microfinance in remote areas in Papua New Guinea, and the strengthening of the agriculture sector in Samoa.
ADB has been assisting the Government of Nauru since 1991 with approved loans, grants, and technical assistance amounting to over $25 million. ADB and Solomon Islands have been working together since 1973 and the country has received over $275 million in loans, grants, and technical assistance. Vanuatu joined ADB in 1976 and has received over $178 million for loans, grants, and technical assistance projects.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totaled $27.2 billion, including cofinancing of $10.7 billion.
