ADB plans to expand operations by 50 pc over next decade

IANS February 18, 2025 193 views

The Asian Development Bank has announced a bold strategy to dramatically increase its regional financial support over the next decade. By scaling up annual financing from $24 billion to $36 billion, the bank aims to accelerate economic and social development across Asia and the Pacific. The Capital Utilization Plan includes an accelerated growth in nonsovereign operations and a more diverse portfolio of investments. This strategic expansion reflects the ADB's commitment to supporting its 69 member countries through targeted, impactful financial interventions.

"Our expanded financing will bolster critical development priorities across Asia and the Pacific." - ADB Official
Manila, Feb 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Tuesday that it has approved a plan to scale up its operations by 50 per cent over the next decade, leveraging its existing capital base to enhance its development impact across Asia and the Pacific.

Key Points

1

ADB to increase annual financing commitments by 50%

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Nonsovereign operations expected to grow from 20% to 27%

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Plan supports regional economic development

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Expansion leverages existing capital base

The Capital Utilisation Plan (CUP) outlines a pathway for increasing the ADB's annual financing commitments from $24 billion in 2024 to more than $36 billion by 2034.

According to the bank, this expanded financing will bolster the efforts of ADB's developing members to address critical development priorities in the region.

The ADB said the plan would increase the bank's lending commitments over the next two to three years.

Under the plan, nonsovereign operations are expected to grow at an accelerated pace, rising from 20 per cent to 27 per cent of commitments over the decade, while sovereign operations will expand at a moderate pace with a more balanced and diverse portfolio, Xinhua news agency reported.

The ADB is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which is headquartered at 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila 1550, Philippines. The bank also maintains 31 field offices around the world to promote social and economic development in Asia. The bank admits the members of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE), and non-regional developed countries. Starting with 31 members at its establishment, the ADB now has 69 members.

The ADB was modelled closely on the World Bank and has a similar weighted voting system, where votes are distributed in proportion to members' capital subscriptions. ADB releases an annual report that summarises its operations, budget, and other materials for review by the public.

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