ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
ORGANIZATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ADB supports projects in developing member countries that create economic and development impact, delivered through both public and private sector operations, advisory services, and knowledge support.
North American Representative Office (NARO)
Enhancing ADB’s presence in Canada and the United States from Washington, DC
Activities
- North American Representative speaks on clean economy and decarbonization at US-Indo-Pacific Conference
On 15 June 2023, ADB North American Representative Lesley Bearman Lahm spoke at the US-Indo-Pacific Conference 2023, hosted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies and US-ASEAN Business Council in Washington, DC. Representative Lahm highlighted the importance of climate finance for development in Asia and the Pacific and ADB's innovative responses to the need for more energy transition and decarbonization finance, particularly amid energy demand growth in the region. The panel also featured Ambassador Hari Prabowo, Indonesia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Michelle Murphy Rogers, Senior Director, Clean Energy Advisory Practice at Allotrope Partners. Learn more about the conference and watch the recording.
- ADB and International Food Policy Research Institute discuss partnering to address climate-food-nature nexus
On 16 May 2023, ADB Chief of Rural Development and Food Security Qingfeng Zhang and North American Representative Lesley Bearman Lahm met representatives of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, DC. Following up on an October 2022 visit by Bruno Carrasco, Director General of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, the mission updated IFPRI on the progress of ADB’s food security initiatives and discussed potential cooperation around comprising regional foresight of agri-food systems, country level food systems diagnostics, and building Asian food security portal.
- ADB Chief Economist completes North American roadshow for Asian Development Outlook
On 17-21 April 2023, ADB Chief Economist Albert Park gave a series of presentations on the Asian Development Outlook April 2023 in cities across North America. Dr. Park presented at the US Treasury Department and Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC; Asia Society, Columbia School of International Public Affairs, and New York University in New York; Global Affairs Canada and International Development Research Centre in Ottawa; and University of Chicago.
- ADB Economist presents on ADO 2023 Special Report for US-Central Asian business associations
On 19 April 2023, Jules Hugot, Economist in ADB's Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, presented at an event hosted by US–Central Asian business associations. The event also featured economists from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Jules highlighted the Special Topic chapter in the Asian Development Outlook April 2023 on "The Economic Impact of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine on the Caucasus and Central Asia". He summarized how economies in this region have benefitted from inflows of Russian migrants and rising exports to Russia, while also pointing to the fragilities of these short-term gains and longer-term challenges.
- Ambassador Wong, North American Deputy Representative, and others speak at US business opportunities event
On 18 April 2023, the US Department of Commerce held an event in Arlington, Virginia, on how US industry can do business with ADB across Asia and the Pacific. US Ambassador and Executive Director of ADB Chantale Wong delivered keynote remarks, while North American Deputy Representative Alain Borghijs discussed NARO’s role in North America and moderated a procurement session focusing on working with MDBs in the region featuring Senior Procurement Specialist Luke Fochtman and a representative from the World Bank. Other speakers included Enoh Ebong, Director of the US Trade and Development Agency, and Reta Jo Lewis, President of the Export-Import Bank of the US. The event was attended by private sector representatives.
- President Asakawa attends G20 meetings, meets with US government officials and MDB heads in Washington, DC
During his mission to Washington, DC, from 10-16 April 2023, President Masatsugu Asakawa met with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and discussed how ADB’s work on trade and supply chains, climate, and domestic resource mobilization overlap with pillars of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. He also met with US Assistant Secretary of Treasury for International Trade and Development Alexia Latortue and discussed ADB’s ongoing evolution and various climate initiatives. President Asakawa also participated in the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meetings and in meetings with the heads of the multilateral and regional development banks, and with the private sector. With other MDB heads, the President also met the co-chairs of the G20 Expert Panel on MDB evolution. In these meetings, President Asakawa discussed MDB collaboration on shared global challenges as well as ADB’s enhanced climate ambition, efforts to mobilize private capital, and the new operating model.
- North American Representative Office-Georgetown Speaker Series: Presentation on ADB Country Partnership Strategy Development
On 17 March 2023, North American Deputy Representative Alain Borghijs led a workshop for Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service graduate students on how ADB translates its vision for inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific into projects in individual countries through the Country Partnership Strategies (CPSs). He provided an overview of Strategy 2030 and outlined the CPS development processes, including how ADB engages with various in-country stakeholders. Following his presentation, the students participated in a case study focused on Kazakhstan's CPS development.
- ADB gender outreach events in New York and Washington, DC
On 16 March 2023, ADB Chief of Gender Equality Samantha Hung presented an ADB knowledge-sharing session on Gender and Climate Change hosted by the ADB North American Representative Office in Washington, DC. The session was attended by approximately 20 representatives from US Government departments, embassies, development partners, civil society, think tanks, and academia. Later the same day, Samantha participated in a panel event hosted by the Center for Global Development on Building Economies that Work for Women, alongside Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality Stephanie Copus Campbell, Special Advisor to the IMF Managing Director Ratna Sahay; and Rachel Vogelstein, US National Security Council Special Advisor on Gender and Special Assistant to the President, Gender Policy Council. Watch the event recording. Earlier the same week on 13 March, Samantha moderated a joint ADB and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) side event at the 67th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women on Reaching the Last Mile: How Digital Technologies Build Women’s Resilience, with speakers from UNFPA, IsDB, ADB, and EduCast/AST.
- President Asakawa, Canadian delegates discuss joint action on shared goals
President Masatsugu Asakawa on 1 March 2022 met with Canada’s Minister of International Development and ADB Governor Harjit S. Sajjan and Member of Parliament, Mississauga-Streetsville, Rechie Valdez in ADB headquarters. They discussed Canada’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy and possible collaboration with FinDev, Canada’s development finance institution. They also discussed topics of common interest including climate finance, food security, gender, safeguards, and ADB capital adequacy. Executive Director Donald Bobiash and Canada's Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman, along with other delegates from Canada, joined Governor Sajjan in the meeting. Managing Director General Woochong Um, Private Sector Operations Department Director General Suzanne Gaboury, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department Director General Bruno Carrasco, Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships Department Deputy Director General Vijay Padmanabhan, Department of Communications Principal Director Bernard Woods, and Assistant Secretary Harumi Kodama also joined the meeting.
- ADB North American Representative Office hosts knowledge sharing session on transport decarbonization
On 17 January 2023, the ADB North American Representative Office hosted a knowledge-sharing session featuring Chief of ADB's Transport Sector Group Jamie Leather on “Decarbonization of the transport sector in Asia and the Pacific: ADB support and assistance to achieve a net zero future.” He highlighted the needs for investment in transport infrastructure, as well as the challenges and opportunities provided by aligning transport investment with climate goals. The session reached full capacity, with attendees from the US State Department, Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Treasury Department, USAID, and DFC, as well as from WB, IMF, EBRD, JBIC, JICA, think tanks, and business associations.
