Throughout 2025, our developing member countries (DMCs) navigated a world of increasing complexity and uncertainty. In response, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) delivered at scale and provided tailored solutions to help them adapt and turn challenges into opportunities to be more connected, resilient, and prosperous. This Annual Report summarizes the bank’s operational, institutional, and financial highlights in 2025.

 

Asia and the Pacific faced unprecedented uncertainty and increasingly fragmented supply chains, which together are reshaping trade and investment and making cross-border cooperation harder when it is most needed. To counter these challenges, ADB made private sector development its first priority. ADB is uniquely equipped for this task as our public and private sector operations are under one roof, form one legal entity, and have one balance sheet. Our combined public and private sector approach creates efficiency and development impact, spurring a vibrant private sector that generates the jobs, investment, and innovation essential for a more prosperous and resilient region.

 

We scaled up for impact in 2025. Our operations committed in the past year are expected to generate more than 3.3 million jobs and ultimately benefit over 180 million people across Asia and the Pacific. These commitments—comprising loans, grants, equity investments, guarantees and technical assistance—amounted to $29.3 billion, 20% more than in 2024. This is coupled with $14.7 billion from our partners. Of our commitments, $23.5 billion was for programs and projects in the public sector, while $5.5 billion were directed to the private sector. Half of our commitments in the public sector directly supported infrastructure, reforms, and institutions to unlock private investments.

 

Our private sector investments are helping to address many of the region’s most pressing needs. We are enhancing digital connectivity for businesses and communities, building modern and reliable energy infrastructure to meet growing power demand, and expanding access to bank finance for small businesses, including many that are women-owned.

 

We are also addressing barriers that are holding back the private sector in challenging markets. In the Pacific,

 

 

we launched our Wayfinder Program, an innovative suite of tailored solutions designed to support businesses that traditional lenders often overlook.

 

The challenges facing Asia and the Pacific do not stop at national borders. Trade, energy, biodiversity protection, and digital connectivity, among other priorities, all demand regional solutions. In response, we are deepening our leadership in regional platforms. In Southeast Asia, ADB is supporting the development of the ASEAN Power Grid, which connects the electricity networks and strengthens the energy security of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Regional platforms such as this foster the connectivity and collaboration that will shape Asia and the Pacific’s future prosperity.

 

Many of our DMCs are highly exposed to more frequent and extreme weather events as well as other shocks. When disasters strike, ADB moves quickly to provide support and help communities rebuild with dignity. In the past year, we provided emergency assistance to people in earthquake-affected areas in Afghanistan and Myanmar, as well as to communities devastated by floods in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

 

As we delivered strong operational results in 2025, we also accelerated institutional reforms and policy updates to make ADB faster, stronger, and more responsive.

 

We adopted our first-ever Charter amendment—a defining moment in ADB history— which removes the bank’s lending limitation and enables a 50% increase in our financing capacity without requiring a general capital increase from shareholders. We updated our energy policy to better support energy access and security for our DMCs, including by enabling ADB to invest in nuclear energy where it aligns with country needs and meets the highest standards of safety, security, and environmental safeguards. We adopted a new approach for supporting critical minerals-to-manufacturing value chains, designed to help the region responsibly and sustainably capitalize on the rising demand for materials essential for renewable energy and digital

technologies. We also finalized procurement reforms that strengthen ADB’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and value for money. These reforms will create more local jobs and help deliver high-quality infrastructure that provides lasting development impact.

 

Together with the World Bank Group, we introduced a historic cofinancing approach, the Full Mutual Reliance Framework, that enables DMCs to benefit from faster project implementation, lower transaction costs, and continued adherence to high policy standards by fully eliminating duplication between the two institutions.

 

A key ingredient of ADB’s delivery is its Staff. Since 2023, we have increased the number of our staff in the field by 16%. A larger presence in our DMCs allows us to enhance the quality and frequency of dialogue with governments, have a deeper understanding of local challenges and deliver results faster on the ground.

 

Our progress in scaling up efforts and deepening our impact in 2025 was made possible through the collective dedication of ADB’s Management and Staff, Board of Directors, and

our development partners. I am sincerely grateful for the continued confidence and support from our donors, as well as our bilateral and multilateral partners. I value the insight and guidance of our Board of Directors and Board of Governors, whose stewardship is crucial. Finally, I extend my deep gratitude to ADB Staff, contractors, and consultants for their continued commitment and hard work.

 

The year 2026 marks a pivotal milestone—six decades of ADB partnership and impact across Asia and the Pacific. Our 60th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on our achievements, while also challenging us to further strengthen our institution, enhance delivery, and generate greater impact. In doing so, we can better serve the people of Asia and the Pacific as they work to solve increasingly complex challenges and achieve inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth.

 

Masato Kanda

President and Chairperson

of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for the strategic direction of ADB’s operations. It approves policies, strategies, and individual projects over a certain value. The Board undertakes fiduciary oversight through its standing committees. It also represents the interests of shareholders in ensuring the bank is responsive to the needs of developing member countries (DMCs).

 

Board activity was significant in 2025, overseeing major policy decisions that increased ADB’s lending capacity to expand assistance for its DMCs throughout the Asia and Pacific region. The Board approved 158 new projects, programs, and financing facilities to scale up operations across the region.

 

The Board endorsed ADB’s new Policy Architecture, establishing a clearer governance framework for managing policies and directional and guidance documents. In addition, the Board approved the Full Mutual Reliance Framework— an innovative cofinancing option undertaken jointly with the World Bank—to help deliver faster, more impactful, and more responsive development financing. It also approved the updated Sovereign Financial Intermediation Lending Policy to accelerate private sector-led growth through financing mechanisms that strengthen crisis response across DMCs.

 

Committee and Working Group Highlights

 

Board members continued serving on committees and working groups monitoring and guiding ADB’s operations and providing recommendations to ADB Management.

 

The Audit and Risk Committee assists the Board of Directors in carrying out its responsibilities on matters relating to financial reporting, internal and external audits, internal controls, risk management, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, business continuity, and organizational resilience. Considerations in 2025 focused on ADB’s Capital Adequacy Framework and implications of the Charter lending limit. The committee monitored the implementation of ADB’s new operating model and reviewed the new Policy Architecture. It examined risks related to generative artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, organizational resilience, and disaster risk management. It also assessed quarterly financial and risk reports, internal audit work, and progress on integrity and anticorruption measures.

 

The Budget Review Committee reviews the bank’s annual administrative budget, institutional business plans, and capital expenditures to ensure they align with ADB’s

strategic priorities. The committee assessed ADB’s 2025 budget utilization, the 2026−2028 budget framework, the proposed 2026 budget, and capital expenditure pipelines for 2026–2028. It reviewed consultant procurement and the implementation of the Workforce Rebalancing Framework, and held joint discussions with the Human Resources Committee on workforce analysis and the 2026 salary and benefits proposals.

 

The Compliance Review Committee—acting as liaison to ADB’s independent Compliance Review Panel—reviewed five eligibility reports on complaints (two each from India and Nepal; one from Indonesia) and agreed with the Panel’s recommendation to conduct a compliance review on the Nepal case. The committee cleared the compliance review terms of reference for the Nepal case, following the Board’s authorization of the panel’s recommendation to conduct the review. It also contributed to the ongoing review of the 2012 Accountability Mechanism Policy with the joint Board−Management Working Group.

 

The Development Effectiveness Committee ensures ADB’s operations, policies, and strategies achieve desired development outcomes efficiently. In 2025, the committee reviewed major evaluations covering ADB’s support for education, health, and livable cities as well as the evaluation of the Kazakhstan country assistance program. Discussions also covered corporate evaluations of ADB’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program, ADB-administered trust funds and other cofinancing programs, and implementation of the bank’s new operating model. The committee approved the Independent Evaluation Department’s work program for 2026–2028.

 

 

ADB Board of Directors as of 31 December 2025. Front, left to right: Directors L. Satya Srinivas Lolla, Martin Tabi, Noor Ahmed, Helmut Fischer, Shigeo Shimizu, Weihua Liu, President and Chairperson of the Board Masato Kanda, Directors Rachel Thompson, Bertrand Furno, Dongil Kim, Parjiono, Amiruddin Muhamed. Back, left to right: Alternate Directors Nim Dorji, Maja Sverdrup, Rolando Tungpalan, Shantanu Mitra, Shu Zhan, Lisa Wright, Ludivine Halbrecq, Mahinda Siriwardana, Llewellyn Roberts, Shreekrishna Nepal, Abigail Demopulos.

 

Inset photo: Alternate Director Haruka Sekiya.

 

The Human Resources Committee reviews, monitors, and recommends workplace strategies and policies to the Board, focusing on recruitment, compensation, benefits, and staff welfare. The committee discussed the Strategic Human Resources Framework and laid the groundwork for the 2026 Comprehensive Review of Compensation and Benefits. Priorities included the gender pay gap, internal dispute resolution mechanisms, performance management, and learning and development. The committee also reviewed recruitment performance, job architecture implementation, and staff engagement survey results, and held a joint session with the Budget Review Committee on the 2026 salary and benefits proposals and 2025 workforce analysis.

 

Three Board Working Groups deepened engagement with ADB’s digital agenda, advanced the review of ADB’s Accountability Mechanism Policy (2012), and continued to maintain an institutional focus on gender balance at the Board level. The first working group contributed to the Digital Transformation Operational Approach (ADB Digital), supported the redesign of the Board Information System, and explored new knowledge products, including for disaster risk analysis. A second working group gathered stakeholder views on implementing the Accountability Mechanism Policy, commissioning a report to present strategic options on proposed revisions to the policy. Meanwhile, a third working group held a panel discussion in March featuring current and former women Board members who highlighted their leadership experiences and underscored the importance of gender diversity at the Board of Directors level and of broader perspectives in decision-making.

Board–Management Relations and Engagement

 

Board–Management relations ensure institutional cohesion on topics such as private sector development, regional cooperation and public goods, and organizational resilience. ADB now holds two forums for dialogue and exchange of ideas on such matters: the annual Board and Management Retreat and the Board Week. The retreat, held in June in Clark, Pampanga, featured speakers from the International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank Institute, and the Clark Development Agency. The inaugural Board Week was held in March at ADB headquarters, with in-depth discussions on policy priorities, the macroeconomic outlook, the bank’s new operating model, and its new Policy Architecture.

 

Partnerships and Dialogue

 

Strengthening partnerships and promoting dialogue with DMCs remained a core part of the Board’s work in 2025. Board group visits were held in Bhutan, the People’s Republic of China, India, Mongolia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands, while a familiarization visit took place in the island province of Palawan in the Philippines. These missions enabled Board members to discuss development priorities with government counterparts and communities; observe ADB-supported projects; meet clients; and engage with development partners, civil society, and the private sector.

ADB Driving Impact

 

ADB’s financial and technical support is transforming lives and economies across Asia and the Pacific—fueling prosperity, strengthening communities, and protecting the planet.

 

In 2025, ADB sharpened its focus on promoting private sector development as a key driver of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth. ADB’s 2025 investments across Asia and the Pacific are expected to generate more than 3.3 million jobs.

 

The 49 private sector projects ADB committed in 2025 are helping unlock a total of $9.5 billion in private sector financing, of which $4.7 billion is direct private capital mobilization, enabling larger and more ambitious investments that advance sustainable growth.

 

Of the 115 public sector projects committed by ADB in 2025, 50% directly supported infrastructure, reforms, and institutions to unlock private investments. ADB’s expanded use of innovative financial solutions in 2025, such as risk-bearing instruments, enhanced project bankability, boosted investor confidence, and attracted additional investors.

 

About 120 million people in the Asia and Pacific region are projected to benefit from improved infrastructure, financial services, and agricultural productivity because of ADB’s investments in 2025.

Approximately 61 million people are expected to benefit from improved health care services, education provision, or social protection, and ADB’s operations are expected to directly help improve the living standards of more than 9 million people living in poverty and vulnerable situations.

 

ADB also achieved significant progress in advancing the environment and nature agenda across Asia and the Pacific in 2025. It supported 17 DMCs to enhance nature-based solutions that strengthen resilience, protect biodiversity, restore coastal and marine ecosystems, reduce pollution, and promote nature-positive supply chains.

 

Overall, ADB committed $29.3 billion in loans, grants, equity investments, guarantees, and technical assistance—the highest level outside the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emergency period and a 20% increase on 2024 commitments. Total public sector financing was $23.5 billion, while ADB’s own resources for the private sector reached $5.5 billion. Technical assistance amounting to $286 million remained critical for project design, policy reform, institutional strengthening, and regional integration. To amplify the impacts of these commitments, the bank again sought the contributions of valued cofinancing partners, who contributed $14.7 billion in additional resources supporting larger, more ambitious development solutions than ADB could achieve alone.

Increasing Prosperity Through Vibrant Economies

 

ADB in 2025 provided a broad range of investments and knowledge work to stimulate private investment in the region, streamline regional connectivity and cooperation, accelerate digital transformation, and bolster public financial management and financial markets to support economic growth and development.

 

Boosting Private Investment

 

Helping the private sector grow and flourish brings numerous benefits to developing economies. Aside from encouraging entrepreneurial activity and creating jobs, it helps mobilize private funding for development projects, expands technical and vocational education, and strengthens capital markets. These activities transform lives and livelihoods and, in turn, drive sustainable economic growth.

 

In 2025, expanding private sector engagement remained central to ADB’s strategies for unlocking new growth opportunities across Asia and the Pacific.

In the Pacific, ADB established the Pacific Wayfinder program to boost private sector investment in small island developing states and fragile and conflict-affected situations. In the Philippines, the bank invested in a water company’s initial public offering, mobilizing finance to expand and modernize water and wastewater infrastructure. In Pakistan, a policy-based guarantee is helping mitigate credit risk for commercial bank lending to smaller enterprises and mobilize commercial financing of $1 billion.

 

Meanwhile, in Uzbekistan, ADB is helping unlock the country’s renewable energy potential and boost economic development. The bank mobilized $1.2 billion in total private and partner capital for two 500-megawatt solar projects.

 

Collaboration between governments and private enterprise on infrastructure projects also remains a priority. Under ADB’s approach for supporting critical minerals-to-manufacturing value chains, the bank approved an innovative financing package for a copper-gold mine in Pakistan to strengthen the global copper supply chain. ADB’s financing will help unlock greater private capital by derisking the investment. The bank also achieved financial

closure on two public–private partnership projects—a pumped-storage hydropower plant in the Philippines and a 300-megawatt solar project in Uzbekistan—securing $781.2 million in private investment. ADB also trained over 300 officials in nine DMCs on how to prepare and deliver well-structured public–private partnership projects.

 

ADB’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program grew over 15% in 2025. It delivered 24,700 guarantees and loans valued at $5.7 billion, of which $3.5 billion was mobilized from the private sector, and supported cross-border transactions for 15,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition to partnering with banks to help companies diversify their international trading relationships, the program supported $3.6 billion in intra-regional trade, including $727 million in transactions between DMCs. ADB’s Microfinance Program, which helps firms access working capital, supported income generation, livelihood activities, and micro-housing through financing for more than 800,000 micro and small enterprise borrowers, totaling $434 million. It also entered new markets.

 

ADB expanded its local currency lending in 2025 to help mitigate currency risks for borrowers and to help open local markets to foreign investment and development finance. For many of the projects that ADB supports, foreign currency-denominated loans would not be feasible. The bank debuted in the Uzbekistan sum market and returned to the Chinese yuan, Georgian lari, Kazakh tenge, Mongolian togrog, and Philippine peso bond markets. Seven out of the 15 local currency bonds issued in 2025 were thematic bonds, totaling $104.8 million in United States dollar equivalent, in green, education, gender, and health themes.

 

Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Integration

 

Strengthening regional connectivity contributes to shared economic prosperity through mutually beneficial trade as well as cooperation on core development issues.

 

Throughout 2025, ADB continued to help improve regional transport systems and cross-border power links; expand trade and investment opportunities; and support the delivery of regional public goods such as healthy oceans and the blue economy, glaciers and water security, biodiversity and ecosystem management, as well as clean air and pollution control. Responding to increased uncertainty in global trade, ADB and the World Trade Organization convened a high-level forum on Central Asia and neighboring economies within the multilateral trading system to help identify new opportunities for cooperation. ADB technical assistance is also developing a framework to reinforce the building blocks of economic corridor development under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation program, enhancing prospects for trade and value chain integration.

 

 

ADB’s partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Bank on the ASEAN Power Grid—a regional effort to connect the electricity networks of ASEAN’s 10 member countries—will strengthen economic ties through energy trading. In 2025, a new financing initiative for the grid was launched—which was backed by an initial $6 million in ADB technical assistance—to mobilize funding for projects to connect power networks across land and sea borders. This initiative complemented an earlier ADB announcement of up to $10 billion to support the grid’s development.

 

ADB also supports special economic zones, which can serve as catalysts for creating economic corridors and value chains. In July 2025, ADB and Indonesia brought together officials from the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, the Indonesia– Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle, and the Greater Mekong Subregion to advance special economic zone development and identify new avenues for collaboration. In Indonesia, ADB provided a policy-based loan to accelerate cross-border trade. The program will introduce reforms to reduce logistics costs; provide incentives to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise exporters; and pursue and implement additional free trade agreements.

 

Advancing the Digital Transformation

 

Digital technology is a critical enabler of economic prosperity. While digitalization and AI can deliver significant productivity and efficiency gains, their rapid adoption must be properly governed to avoid issues such as data misuse, cybersecurity breaches, and the potential exclusion of people without digital access.

ADB promotes a responsible AI approach that integrates investment with strong data governance, cybersecurity, and institutional capacity, ensuring that innovation strengthens inclusive economic growth. As one example of this approach, the Asian Development Bank Institute, ADB, and partners co-organized an event on AI applications in health care, which underscored the technology’s potential to transform diagnostics, expand access, and deliver personalized services, while stressing the need for equitable and ethical adoption.

 

In 2025, ADB launched a digitalization index, which measures the progress of national digital transformation, helps understand the challenges faced by DMCs, and offers actionable insights for policymakers.

 

In Azerbaijan, the bank is helping digitize rail operations to increase efficiency, enhance safety, and reduce emissions. The modernized railway system will connect the economies in East and Central Asia with Caucasus and Europe. In Georgia, ADB is supporting the use of big data to boost productivity across national logistics chains. In Thailand, it is helping finance the construction and operation of a 25.6-megawatt green data center, strengthening the country’s digital economy by leasing data capacity to large, global technology companies and AI firms.

 

Meanwhile, an ADB regional technical assistance program is identifying digital opportunities in Fiji, Maldives, and Nepal. The bank will also provide advisory support to Pakistan and Tonga and prepare road maps for digital skills development in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Another technical assistance program is integrating cybersecurity measures in development projects in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tajikistan.

Modernizing Public Institutions

 

In many developing economies, comprehensive reforms to fiscal management can create space for vital development projects and ramp up growth led by the private sector.

 

ADB supports the Asia Pacific Tax Hub to drive learning and innovations in tax policy and administration. In 2025, the hub convened peer learning platforms such as the Regional Tax Conference held in November, the Digital Economy Taxation Network Conference held in February, as well as training courses on cross-border tax risks in Fiji and tax expenditure analyses in Bangladesh.

 

In Cambodia, ADB’s policy-based lending is strengthening revenue and expenditure management, with reforms expected to generate more than $2 billion in additional revenues and over $3 billion in efficiency savings by 2028. In Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, ADB provided support for banking reforms to bolster financial stability and modernize the sector by improving asset quality, capital liquidity, and the supervisory and regulatory capacity of central banks.

 

ADB is supporting supreme audit institutions in Maldives and the Marshall Islands to integrate data analytics in audit processes, which will improve audit quality and effectiveness and enhance public financial accountability.

 

In addition, ADB policy advice on state-owned enterprise reform is helping governments across the region strengthen oversight; enhance financial and operational performance; and expand access to commercial and green finance in priority sectors such as energy, transport, and water.

Promoting People’s Well-Being and Empowerment

 

Across Asia and the Pacific, approximately 135 million people still live in extreme poverty, while another 373 million struggle to meet their basic needs. Currently, 500 million people lack access to clean water, 400 million either have no electricity or inadequate supply, and more than 1 billion are unable to easily access basic health services.

 

ADB works to reduce poverty and inequality by investing in the education and employability of the region’s people, expanding access to quality jobs and livelihoods, improving access to health services, and strengthening social protection programs. The bank also ensures specific initiatives for women and girls, particularly around physical safety, quality education, and financial inclusion.

 

Improving Access to Quality Education

 

Education and skills training remain key drivers of raising people out of poverty and ensuring long-term socioeconomic well-being.

 

ADB supports its DMCs by investing in broader access to quality education, teacher development in areas such as digital learning, and technical and vocational education and training that is appropriate to modern, sustainable economies.

 

In 2025, ADB committed a financing package that aligns technical and vocational education and training with labor market needs in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This investment will upskill more than 1,000 female students from poor families in automotive and other key occupational areas.

 

In India, ADB provided financing to the country’s national flagship skilling program to produce highly employable youth aligned with industry needs. In Viet Nam, the bank provided a sustainability-linked private sector loan to improve access to quality education by financing new educational facilities for 20,400 students in the urban areas of Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hung Yen.

 

An ADB-financed project in Kiribati is removing barriers for 950 children each year by funding student transport, enhancing digital curricula, upskilling teachers, and incorporating disability-accessible facilities and resilient school infrastructure.

 

In September 2025, ADB and the Asian Development Bank Institute hosted a professional development program on AI in education. Held in Tokyo, the

 

event drew on Japan’s AI experience in schools to train participants on leading digital transformation in their education systems.

 

Building a Healthier Future

 

Every year, millions of people in DMCs are pushed below the poverty line by health care costs. Governments continue to request development assistance to improve the quality, efficiency, and governance of health services.

 

Designed for DMCs across the region, the first-ever ADB Health Forum in July provided cutting-edge knowledge to advance innovation and transform health systems. It also launched a new regional platform for collaboration on universal health coverage.

 

In Sri Lanka, ADB is supporting a nationwide program to expand surgical and specialist services in 82 secondary hospitals, establish a center for disease control, and enhance public health laboratory capacity and accreditation. It is also strengthening pharmaceutical quality assurance and sector governance.

 

ADB is supporting the establishment of a specialized facility for noncommunicable diseases in Vanuatu. This facility will provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes and cervical cancer, while promoting healthy lifestyles for nearly half of the population.

 

In Turkmenistan, ADB is improving equitable access to quality care for the people of Ashgabat and surrounding regions. The project will provide better-qualified nurses and midwives, and increase their number, by constructing a new nursing school and modernizing teaching methods and nursing education curricula.

 

Expanding Social Protection to Safeguard Livelihoods

 

Social protection is a central tenet of inclusive development, allowing societies to remain cohesive and unify toward sustainable economic growth, particularly

through skills programs and new employment pathways. These safety nets are critical in the wake of disasters and other emergencies.

 

In 2025, grants from ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund provided urgent shelter, food, and medical assistance in the aftermath of severe flooding in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

 

In Bangladesh, ADB is investing to improve living conditions and create livelihood opportunities for more than 71,000 displaced people from Myanmar and members of host communities. The bank’s financing is helping construct food centers, temporary schools that double as cyclone shelters, bridges, a water treatment plant, and water supply and energy systems.

 

In Armenia, ADB’s results-based lending program is supporting long-term, sustainable housing for about 109,000 Armenian refugees who arrived in 2023. The program will also improve access to social protection, finance, and economic opportunities for affected households.

 

ADB is advancing social protection systems in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao PDR, and the Philippines through technical assistance that strengthens policies, operations, digital systems, and institutional capacity.

 

Meanwhile, the bank provided emergency support— including shelter, food, water, sanitation services, essential health supplies, trauma counseling, and temporary learning spaces—for more than 400,000 people in Myanmar’s earthquake-affected communities. ADB also provided emergency food and cash assistance to approximately 60,000 people affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan.

 

Empowering Women and Girls

 

Governments in developing economies continue to raise their ambitions for improving the lives of women and girls. ADB responded again in 2025 by strengthening its approach and raising its level of ambition for mainstreaming support for women and girls. It designed projects that directly address specific challenges and support innovative approaches to closing gaps between females and males.

 

ADB is providing advisory support to create safer public transport, improve personal security, and tackle violence against women and girls across Asia and the Pacific by enabling stakeholders in the region’s health and transport sectors to explicitly address inequalities in project design and implementation.

In Pakistan, ADB is investing in girls’ education and participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects. Through technical assistance, it is helping Armenia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Uzbekistan integrate women’s inequality assessments and make budgets work for women and girls through fiscal policymaking and public financial management.

 

Fostering private ventures, ADB is providing financing to a commercial bank in Uzbekistan to expand lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises owned or led by women as well as first-time borrowers. It is also helping establish Tonga’s first credit risk- sharing facility to ease collateral constraints and unlock bank lending for about 300 women entrepreneurs. An associated fund will provide grants to improve the bankability of unregistered businesses led by women.

 

Enhancing Livelihoods in Remote and Rural Areas

 

For people in remote and rural areas, investments in modern infrastructure, sustainable employment, and agricultural supply chains, along with better management of water and land resources, are essential to build prosperous and harmonious communities.

 

Among a number of investments in rural development during 2025, ADB is improving living conditions for 363,000 people in remote regions of Viet Nam, including 187,000 people from ethnic minorities. Investments in transport and water infrastructure will connect farms with crop-processing facilities and markets; expand access to health, education, and other services; and improve safe water supply and irrigation.

 

In Mongolia, ADB is providing working capital to a private company to purchase wheat from local farmers. The initiative supports 250 farming enterprises and small wheat producers while creating sustainable employment in rural areas.

 

Improving Urban Living Standards

 

Across Asia and the Pacific, about 600 million people still live in informal settlements, while rapid urbanization continues to place massive pressure on the ability of DMCs to deliver basic services.

 

In 2025, ADB scaled up its investments in urban development, adopting integrated approaches to help DMCs build inclusive and sustainable cities.

 

The bank’s first public sector loan to Türkiye is restoring and expanding drinking water supply and wastewater and drainage services for more than 163,000 people

across provinces affected by the 2023 earthquake. In Cambodia, a 2025 commitment will benefit over 2 million people in 14 cities across 12 districts through improved urban planning; better water supply, sanitation, and waste management; and updated flood control.

 

Reflecting India’s complex challenges, ADB copublished a concept note on creative urban redevelopment with the Government of India and the World Bank, outlining innovative approaches for restoring critical spaces that were once vibrant.

 

ADB also hosted the Water and Urban Development Forum in May 2025, drawing 672 attendees from 30 DMCs to share solutions on sustainable services, urban transformation, and investment mobilization. In December, the bank launched the Asian Water Development Outlook 2025, which assessed water security in 50 economies and identified priority reforms and associated investments—totaling $4 trillion between 2025 and 2040—to enhance water management.

 

Building a Healthy Planet

 

Across Asia and the Pacific, many DMCs are highly exposed to severe typhoons, floods, droughts, extreme heat, sea-level rise, and glacier retreat, which are exacerbated by a changing climate. Meanwhile,

ecosystems, livelihoods, and communities are being threatened by biodiversity loss, degradation of natural resources, and declining water security.

 

ADB is strategically scaling up investments that build the region’s momentum to help protect the planet. In 2025, the bank committed over $13.5 billion in climate finance.

 

Strengthening Resilience

 

In 2025, several DMCs experienced catastrophic flooding, intense monsoon rains, and powerful tropical cyclones, while melting glaciers caused floods across the Hindu Kush Himalayas, impacting Afghanistan, Nepal, and Pakistan.

 

ADB responded with advanced disaster risk management solutions to better prepare for, reduce, and respond to climate-and disaster-related risks, including post-disaster needs.

 

The bank is helping build resilient water and agriculture systems for 13 million people, including farmers and vulnerable communities, in glacier-dependent regions of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan. This work is made possible via $250 million from the Green Climate Fund.

 

In Bhutan, ADB committed support for the government’s flagship initiative to address flood risks from the Omchhu River, which are intensified by unpredictable riverbank erosion, landslides, and worsening weather-related impacts.

The project will help mitigate risks for 12,500 people in Phuentsholing and enable safer riverfront development.

 

In the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, ADB is helping establish a new disaster relief finance program combining rapid budget support for medium-severity natural hazards and health emergencies with a world-first catastrophe bond delivering quick liquidity following high-severity disasters.

 

Accelerating Energy Access and Affordability

 

Facing frequent and intense disasters, along with deteriorating air quality and ecological conditions, Asia and the Pacific is responsible for over half of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Throughout 2025, ADB invested significantly to expand energy access and accelerate affordable and clean energy development across the region. In India, the bank is helping accelerate rooftop solar adoption and expand access to clean and affordable energy for 10 million households by 2027.

 

In Timor-Leste, ADB support saw the country reach a major milestone in its energy security by signing a power purchase agreement for a 72-megawatt solar power plant paired with a 36-megawatt-hour battery storage system. The facility will generate enough power for 80,000 households, reducing reliance on imported diesel.

 

ADB is also supporting Uzbekistan through landmark, private sector investments such as a utility-scale wind-plus-storage project that is expected to generate

728 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually and cut 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Additionally, two solar photovoltaic plants with battery storage will deliver clean power to 600,000 households and offset 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide each year.

 

Transforming Food Systems

 

At the bank’s 58th Annual Meeting in May 2025, ADB President Masato Kanda announced a $40 billion ambition to transform food systems across Asia and the Pacific by 2030. It will support long-term food and nutrition security by prioritizing ecosystem protection and nutrition improvement and will scale up financing for agribusinesses.

 

In Sri Lanka, ADB is investing in the country’s largest multiuse water resources development initiative to strengthen agriculture sector resilience and enhance food security. The transformative trans-basin project will directly benefit 35,600 climate-vulnerable farming households in the dry zone, irrigating 14,912 hectares of paddy field and providing water for high-value crops across 5,039 hectares of upland fields.

 

Meanwhile, in the Lao PDR, ADB is boosting nutritious food production and agrifood systems geared to the export of high-value commodities. The bank is funding the construction or rehabilitation of irrigation facilities as well as community-based technical advisory services, training, and on-farm demonstrations. ADB is also providing capital for eligible enterprises investing in agricultural value chains and supporting the modernization of food safety laboratories.

Investing in Biodiversity and Nature

 

Many developing economies across Asia and the Pacific recognize that biodiversity conservation and the protection of natural assets can be critical for improving food security, protecting cultural heritage, and spurring sustainable economic transformation.

 

ADB is prioritizing investments that protect and restore nature. The bank’s program for healthy oceans and sustainable blue economies, for instance, has quadrupled investments to over $1 billion, up from about $270 million in 2019. At the United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025, ADB was recognized as a pioneer in advancing blue bonds and other innovative ocean finance initiatives.

 

In the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the bank is helping conserve more than 220 hectares of coastal wetlands and mangroves and transform over 630 hectares into sustainable aquaculture and farmland under its Regional Flyway Initiative. The project is also upgrading infrastructure and ecosystem services and reducing flood risks for at least 4.4 million people.

 

In Fiji, ADB is helping upgrade a wastewater facility to reduce pollutants entering Laucala Bay and restore marine ecosystems, including mangrove forests and coral reefs. Meanwhile, ADB initiated technical assistance to accelerate private sector investment in carbon-positive nature-based solutions, including fast-growing crops and renewable biological resources, across DMCs.

 

Promoting Smart Waste Management

 

Asia and the Pacific generates an estimated 1.8 billion tons of municipal waste annually, yet systems to manage waste remain critically underdeveloped in many economies.

 

In 2025, ADB supported responsible waste management with financing for recycling and circular economy activities, infrastructure upgrades, and holistic planning.

 

In the Philippines, the bank is supporting the recycling of plastics and solid waste to prevent these items from entering marine ecosystems, while also helping rejuvenate coastal areas. It is also exploring the use of recycled plastic waste in Papua New Guinea’s asphalt roads to improve durability under hot temperatures and reduce landfill.

 

In the PRC, ADB is helping address land-based pollution in Ningxiang City by improving wastewater management through a private sector loan. The project will help protect Dongting Lake, the PRC’s second-largest freshwater lake and a wetland critical for flood regulation and biodiversity conservation.

Partnering for Greater Impact

 

Scaling up for impact across a wide and diverse region is possible only through strong and strategic partnerships. In 2025, ADB worked closely with governments, shareholders, development organizations, the private sector, and civil society to deliver solutions that are larger in scale, faster in implementation, and more effective.

 

By combining financing, expertise, technology, and knowledge, ADB’s partnerships deliver project efficiencies and economies of scale that allow DMCs to tackle the region’s most pressing challenges and advance toward a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.

 

Several European partners expanded their commitments in 2025. Germany’s KfW added $2 billion to its cofinancing agreement with ADB through to 2028, supporting clean energy, water, sanitation, and climate resilience. ADB and France’s Agence Française de Développement doubled their joint cofinancing target to $6 billion for 2026–2028. Italy scaled up support through Cassa Depositi e Prestiti for climate and biodiversity projects and through its export credit agency to broaden opportunities for Italian industries in ADB-supported initiatives.

 

Shoring up food security and rural livelihoods, ADB and the International Fund for Agricultural Development expanded their cooperation through to 2028. The bank also signed the Master Framework Agreement for Sustainable Infrastructure with 10 global insurers, with the potential to mobilize up to $2.8 billion in private capital and enabling ADB to share credit risk with the insurance market.

 

ADB launched the Market Acceleration Platform for Asia and the Pacific Trust Fund, supported by Japan, to bring private sector solutions to development challenges, and introduced the Sustainable and Resilient Maritime Fund to support greener, more-efficient shipping.

 

The bank also signed an agreement with the Gates Foundation to broaden collaboration on health, digital innovation, agriculture, and inclusive growth.

 

ADB further extended its cooperation with civil society organizations (CSOs) through the inaugural CSO Listening Sessions, dedicated partnership days, and targeted consultations on key topics, which together reached 2,200 representatives of 1,500 CSOs.

BY THE NUMBERS

 

ADB OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Commitments, 2021–2025 ($ million)

Item				2021			2022			2023			2024			2025
A. Loans, Grants, and Others
	By Source
		Regular Ordinary Capital Resources		19,531			16,134			18,359			18,311			24,239
		Loansa		16,195			13,232			16,210			15,679			20,918
		Equity Investments		265			147			105			407			417
		Guarantees		-			19			27			-			500
		Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program and Microfinance Programb		3,072			2,736			2,018			2,225			2,404	c
		Long term (maturity of 365 days or more)		221			269			340			435			533
		Short term (maturity of less than 365 days)		2,851			2,467			1,678			1,789			1,871
		Concessional Resources		2,993			4,074			4,932			5,689			4,739
		Concessional Ordinary Capital Resources Loans		2,648			3,136			4,159			4,610			3,479
		Asian Development Fund		344			938			774			1,079			1,260
		Grants		344			932			770			1,079			1,255
		Guarantees		-			5			3			-			5	d
		Regular Ordinary Capital and Concessional Resources		22,524			20,208			23,292			24,000			28,977
		Special Fundse		5			7			6			6			12
		Grants		5			7			6			6			12
		Subtotal (A)		22,529			20,216			23,297			24,005			28,989
	By Operations
		Public Sector		18,272			16,349			19,533			19,167			23,483
		Loans		17,922			15,389			18,760			18,082			21,716
		Grants		349			940			764			1,085			1,267
		Guarantees		-			19			9			-			500
		Private Sector		4,258			3,867			3,764			4,838			5,506
		Loansa		921			979			1,608			2,207			2,680
		Equity Investments		265			147			105			407			417
		Grants		-			-			12			-			-
		Guarantees		-			5			21			-			5	d
		Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program and Microfinance Programb		3,072			2,736			2,018			2,225			2,404	c
		Long term (maturity of 365 days or more)		221			269			340			435			533
		Short term (maturity of less than 365 days)		2,851			2,467			1,678			1,789			1,871
		Subtotal (A)		22,529			20,216			23,297			24,005			28,989
B. Technical Assistance
		Public Sector		209			243			250			281			267
		Private Sector		21			14			14			17			19
		Subtotal (B)		230			257			264			298			286
TOTAL ADB OPERATIONS (A + B)				22,759			20,473			23,562			24,304			29,275
		ADB Operations Without Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program and Microfinance Programb		19,687			17,736			21,544			22,079			26,871
C. Cofinancing Including Trust Funds and Resource Mobilized
		Public Sector		4,967			4,330			9,528			6,178			4,431
		Trust Funds Administered by ADB		116			92			129			189			254
		Bilateral		2,051			1,830			3,110			2,906			2,798
		Multilateral		2,680			2,340			6,137			3,083			1,379
		Othersf		120			69			152			-			1
		Private Sector		7,543			6,999			6,423			6,612			9,443
		Trust Funds Administered by ADB		103			81			261			87	g		51
		Bilateral		2			-			-			2			-
		Multilateral		5			25			-			45			5
		Commercialh		1,643			1,554			3,015			3,257	g		5,699
		Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program and Microfinance Program		5,790			5,340			3,146			3,221			3,688	c
		Long term (maturity of 365 days or more)		218			218			418			612			525
		Short term (maturity of less than 365 days)		5,572			5,122			2,729			2,609			3,163
		Transaction Advisory Services		397			60			443	i		2,075			781	j
TOTAL COFINANCING				12,907			11,390			16,394			14,865			14,656
Long-Term Direct Mobilizationk				1,502			1,286			2,637			4,641			6,535

 

– = nil, ADB = Asian Development Bank.

Notes:

1.

Commitment is the financing approved by the ADB Board of Directors or Management for which the legal agreement has been signed by the borrower, recipient, or the investee company and ADB. It comprises the amount indicated in the investment agreement, which—depending on the exchange rate at the time of signing—may or may not be equal to the approved amount. In the case of official and commercial cofinancing not administered by ADB for which the signed amount is not readily available, the approved amount is used.

2.

Commitments from ADB’s internal resources include the Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program and Microfinance Program. Inclusion of ADB’s exposure (or committed redeployed capital) under these programs fully reflects the total financing committed. ADB also reports on cofinancing mobilized by these programs.

3.

Numbers may not sum precisely because of rounding.

a

Includes commitments classified as debt securities in financial statements in accordance with accounting standards.

b

The Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) and Microfinance Program are private sector credit enhancement products and loans financed from ADB’s regular ordinary capital resources.

c

Includes $2.2 billion (or $5.7 billion including cofinancing) from the TSCFP.

d

Consists of a private sector guarantee committed to Tajikistan under the Asian Development Fund private sector window managed by ADB.

e

Comprises funds other than the Asian Development Fund such as the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund and the Climate Change Fund.

f

Includes concessional cofinancing for public sector operations from public and private entities other than official development assistance sources, such as state-owned commercial banks, foundations, corporate social responsibility programs, and civil society organizations.

g

This figure has been adjusted since Annual Report 2024 due to the reclassification of $147 million private sector cofinancing for five projects.

h

Includes B loans and parallel loans, among others. B loans are cofinancing arrangements for a single borrower that are funded by commercial banks and other eligible financial institutions, helping to distribute related risks, with ADB acting as the lender of record.

i

Excludes a $37 million A-loan mobilized under Transaction Advisory Services, which is reported under private sector ADB financing, and $150 million that is reported under private sector cofinancing.

j

Excludes $141 million that is reported under private sector cofinancing.

k

Refers to financing on commercial terms from another entity that was made possible by ADB’s active and direct involvement.

Commitments by Region, 2021–2025 ($ million)

Region	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Central and West Asia	5,193	5,962	4,323	5,606	8,287
East Asia	2,034	2,089	2,127	1,852	1,381
Pacific	853	994	253	1,271	680
South Asia	8,819	5,127	8,836	8,942	9,668
Southeast Asia	5,579	6,028	7,940	6,174	8,956
Regional	282	272	83	459	302
TOTAL	22,759	20,473	23,562	24,304	29,275
Note: Numbers may not sum precisely because of rounding.

DISBURSEMENTS FOR LOANS, GRANTS, OTHER DEBT SECURITIES, AND EQUITY INVESTMENTS, 2021–2025

($ million)

 

Portfolio, 2021–2025 ($ million)

Item				2021			2022			2023			2024	a		2025
A. Ongoing Projectsb
	By Source
		Regular Ordinary Capital Resources
		Loans		80,967			78,504			78,634			78,657			81,798
		Other Debt Securities		915			712			664			719			898
		Guarantees		2,754			2,540			2,177			2,499			3,160
		Equity Investments		1,940			1,958			2,058			2,360			2,756
		Concessional Resources
		Loans		19,531			20,079			22,255			22,965			22,231
		Grants		5,146			5,768			5,698			6,369			6,943
		Other Special Funds
		Grants		39			18			13			8			15
	By Operations
		Public Sectorc		97,243			96,804			99,672			100,526			102,728
		Private Sector		14,050			12,774			11,826			13,053			15,075
		Total		111,292			109,579			111,499			113,578			117,803
B. Disbursements
	By Source
		Regular Ordinary Capital Resources
		Loans		14,726			16,154			14,204			14,243			14,394
		Equity Investments		141			197			142			115			319
		Other Debt Securities		43			62			81			186			136
		Concessional Resources
		Loans		2,918			2,421			2,651			3,367			3,322
		Grants		380			818			729			659			852
		Other Special Funds
		Grants		12			6			4			4			14
	By Operations
		Public Sectorc		16,559			18,003			16,357			16,927			16,054
		Private Sector		1,661			1,655			1,453			1,646			2,984
		Total		18,220			19,659			17,810			18,573			19,038
C. Net Resources Transfer to Developing Member Countriesd				7,924			8,097			650			(2,002	)		(1,009	)

 

( ) = negative value.
Note: Numbers may not sum precisely because of rounding.
a	The 2024 figures differ from those in Annual Report 2024 due to adjustments after year-end.
b	Comprises ADB’s public sector and private sector portfolios. Public sector portfolio consists of loans, grants, equity investments, and guarantees committed and not financially closed. Private sector portfolio consists of (i) the committed loan, other debt security and equity (carrying or fair value) portfolio, comprised of outstanding balances plus undisbursed balances; (ii) the committed guarantee portfolio, comprised of outstanding and unissued project guarantees and guarantees under private sector programs; and (iii) the undisbursed balance of grants.
c	Includes the Asian Development Fund and other Special Funds grants.
d	Comprises the net amount of disbursements in excess of (or lower than) payments of principal, interest, and other charges. Includes loans, other debt securities, equity investments, the Asian Development Fund, and other Special Fund grants.

INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES PER $1 MILLION DISBURSEMENT,

2021–2025

($’000, 3-year average)

 

ADB INSTITUTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Item	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
A. Total Staffa	3,687	3,769	3,888	4,134	4,429
International Staff and Board Staff	1,337	1,365	1,414	1,495	1,625
By Location
Resident Missionsb	186	196	204	235	273
Headquarters	1,151	1,169	1,210	1,260	1,352
By Gender
Male	830	837	851	893	952
Female	507	528	563	602	673
Local Staff	2,350	2,404	2,474	2,639	2,804
B. Internal Administrative Budget ($ ’000)	771,188	782,068	841,105	907,858	991,808

a

Refers to all managerial and technical international staff, Board staff (i.e., Director’s Advisors), and technical local staff. The figures exclude Management, Board of Directors, and Secondees assigned to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), but include staff on special leave without pay and staff on external assignment to other organizations.

b

Includes staff in outposted positions and in ADB’s Philippines Country Office.

Central and West Asia achieved robust economic growth in 2025, supported by a lift in private consumption and steady expansion in services and construction. The Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan recorded some of the region’s highest growth rates, driven largely by rising industrial output and increased remittance inflows, while Georgia’s economy grew strongly on the back of rebounding tourism.

 

Despite this momentum, ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs) in the region continued to face significant external and internal challenges. While several benefited from higher commodity prices, others remained vulnerable to regional and global trade tensions. Inflation also accelerated in some DMCs due to higher food prices, utility tariff adjustments, and currency depreciation.

 

Central and West Asia has a rapidly expanding youth population, offering significant potential for long-term prosperity, but persistent skills gaps and limited access to quality jobs—particularly for women—continue to constrain this economic advantage. Private sector growth is held back by high state involvement, limited competition, and institutional barriers, leaving less space for commercial start-ups, business innovation, and economic diversification.

 

Helping the region expand private sector engagement and address other development priorities, ADB

committed $8.3 billion for Central and West Asia in 2025, comprising $7.2 billion in public sector commitments and $1.1 billion in private sector investments.

 

The bank officially commenced operations in Türkiye, rolling out new programs to promote economic resilience. Across its other DMCs, ADB helped vulnerable communities with expanded access to affordable housing, social protection, nursing and midwifery services, and safe water supply.

 

The bank fostered private sector development through initiatives to hasten digital transformation, build resilient financial systems, and improve financial inclusion for women. In addition, ADB provided grants to support fiscal reforms and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

 

ADB continued to promote regional trade and economic integration through investments that enhance transport, enable renewable electricity trade, and interconnect national power systems.

 

Extending its record on green transformation and disaster management in the region, ADB financed projects in glacier monitoring, community-based early warning systems, provision of clean and renewable energy, and sustainable livestock farming.

Increasing Prosperity Through Vibrant Economies

 

Economies in Central and West Asia are looking to escalate business activity and attract greater levels of investment by accelerating digital connectivity, encouraging sustainable and inclusive development and entrepreneurship, and ensuring fiscal and financial stability.

 

In 2025, ADB invested to help the region’s DMCs create quality jobs and bolster private sector engagement through new measures for faster digital transformation, more cohesive regional trade networks, and new expertise in foreign direct investment. The bank also sought to create more prosperous economies by freeing up government resources through improved public financial management and reforms to make state-owned enterprises more efficient.

 

The Need for Digital Transformation

 

Tajikistan continues to face significant gaps in digital connectivity, particularly in rural areas, where most people live. In response, ADB is helping communities connect and thrive through a private sector loan of $32.1 million in the local currency equivalent to help Indigo Tajikistan Closed Joint Stock Company expand and modernize the country’s mobile phone network. As well as creating jobs, the project will improve service quality and enhance access to digital education, health care, and financial services.

 

Through an airport infrastructure project in Georgia, ADB is supporting the use of data-driven tools to strengthen logistics planning and operations across national supply chains. By applying big data analytics, the digital systems will help reduce downtime, improve asset utilization, and enhance coordination among transport agencies and operators, improving the efficiency and reliability of Georgia’s trade flows. The initiative complements government efforts to position Georgia as a regional transport and logistics hub.

Streamlining Trade and Investment

 

Azerbaijan’s location between Asia and Europe gives it strong potential as a regional transport hub, but aging rail infrastructure is hampering the country’s ability to capitalize. In 2025, ADB committed a $47 million loan to modernize Azerbaijan Railways and underpin the country’s position along two key regional trade corridors. The project will digitalize key processes, including cargo management, asset maintenance, investment planning, client information systems, and corporate governance, while complementary technical assistance will upgrade workforce skills.

 

Building on financing for regional transport connectivity, ADB and the World Trade Organization convened a high-level forum on Central Asia’s engagement in the multilateral trading system. The forum brought together senior officials and experts to help navigate trade challenges amid increasing global uncertainty. Centering on expanded market access and economic diversification, discussions highlighted the roles of rules-based trade, trade facilitation, and digital services in strengthening regional participation in global value chains.

 

With economic integration for many DMCs relying on international investment, ADB partnered with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade to deliver training on the international legal frameworks governing foreign direct investment. The workshop helped officials better understand how to attract sustainable investment, reduce dispute risks, and apply modern approaches in investment agreements to support ongoing reforms.

 

Prosperous Economies Through Fiscal Stability

 

Large territorial inequalities across Kazakhstan’s oblasts (administrative regions) create prosperity imbalances and represent barriers to national efficiency and growth. ADB and the Government of Kazakhstan have been working together since 2013 to ensure social equity and expand

 

 

economic capacity by strengthening the country’s fiscal management and governance. This includes ADB analytical work in 2025 on fiscal decentralization. Drawing on global best practices and national data, the study provides a road map for more balanced and sustainable economic growth and explores equitable tax redistribution designed to address socioeconomic disparities.

 

Pakistan also continues to face fiscal pressures that limit investment in essential services and inclusive development. In 2025, ADB committed an $800 million package—including a $300 million policy-based loan and up to $500 million policy-based guarantee—that enables the government to mobilize $1 billion in additional financing. The program aims to reduce public deficits and debt to create more space for social spending. It focuses on improving tax policy, administration, and compliance; enhancing public expenditure and cash management; and promoting digitalization and private investment.

 

Promoting People’s Well-Being and Empowerment

 

In 2025, communities across Central and West Asia were again confronted by a diverse set of challenges, including geopolitical and cultural tensions, aging societies and rising diseases, a lack of safe and affordable housing, low levels of financial support for women in business, and limited educational opportunities for girls. ADB devoted significant financing and knowledge resources to tackle these and other issues, helping to improve living conditions, expand income opportunities, and strengthen support systems for those most at risk.

 

Targeted Support for Poor and Vulnerable People

 

Afghanistan continues to face severe food insecurity and limited access to basic services, especially for women and children. Reflecting ADB’s commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods amid humanitarian crises, the bank committed $600 million in Asian Development Fund (ADF)

grants to support the people of Afghanistan. The support package, provided with United Nations agencies, is helping sustain essential health services in 17 provinces and deliver vital medicines, immunizations, and care for mothers and children. With the Aga Khan Foundation and World Food Programme, ADB is also providing emergency food assistance in hunger hot spots and helping vulnerable households produce more food through provision of seeds, livestock, and other agricultural inputs. At the same time, community initiatives are strengthening resilience to weather- and disaster-related shocks.

 

In Turkmenistan, an aging population and rising noncommunicable diseases are increasing pressure on the health system. Recognizing the need for better-skilled health workers in greater numbers, ADB committed a $74.7 million loan in 2025 to build a stronger nursing and midwifery workforce for Turkmenistan. The project will construct a modern nursing school in Ashgabat, enhance nursing education and training, and align curricula with global standards.

 

Tackling Shortfalls in Affordable Housing

 

Armenia continues to face growing demand for housing following the arrival of more than 100,000 refugees in 2023. ADB has responded by approving a $250 million loan and administering a $16.5 million grant from the Global Concessional Finance Facility to help vulnerable families access affordable, disaster-resilient homes. The program will create a centralized beneficiary database and raise building standards for energy efficiency and seismic resilience, helping provide sustainable housing for more than 7,000 families over 5 years. It will also improve housing finance systems and update real estate regulations.

 

Housing affordability is similarly an issue in Uzbekistan, where limited access to mortgage finance—especially for women and young borrowers—is hampering entry into the real estate market. In 2025, ADB supported the Mortgage Refinancing Company of Uzbekistan with a $30.1 million private sector loan to encourage a shift from government-backed to market-based financing. Building on earlier ADB technical support during the company’s establishment, the loan will help expand access to housing and renovation financing and promote more-inclusive lending: At least 35% of onlending will go to women, 20% to youth, and 10% to green renovation projects.

 

Boosting Income Opportunities for Women

 

Pakistan continues to face one of the world’s widest gaps in economic participation, largely due to women’s limited access to finance and their low representation in formal employment. To help close the finance gap— estimated at about 37%—ADB committed $350 million

to foster business ventures owned by women. The support comprises a $300 million policy-based loan to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks to include women and a $50 million financial intermediation loan to expand credit and guarantees for women entrepreneurs. The program aims to empower 2 million women, enhance their entrepreneurial abilities, and advance reforms that promote equitable economic opportunities nationwide.

 

Promoting women’s economic participation is also a priority in Georgia, where women own or lead one in four micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) yet still face significant barriers to accessing commercial credit. In 2025, ADB committed $100.1 million (in Georgian lari equivalent) for TBC Bank to expand MSME and green financing, with a particular focus on businesses owned or led by women. This private sector loan to TBC is expected to increase both the volume of MSME lending as well as the number of borrowers.

 

Gaps in medium- and long-term financing have historically constrained MSME growth and job creation in Armenia, including for women entrepreneurs. In 2025, ADB partnered with Armeconombank Open Joint Stock Company to expand access to finance for MSMEs and vulnerable households through a local currency loan. The $15.1 million private sector loan will enable more than 1,000 MSMEs—including more than 300 women-led enterprises—to access commercial loans, stimulating

investment in productivity-enhancing technologies and environmentally sustainable business practices while reducing exposure to foreign exchange risks. This initiative underpins employment growth through private enterprise and aligns with ADB’s strategic focus on inclusive and sustainable private sector development in Armenia.

 

Uzbekistan faces similar challenges to Armenia, with MSMEs accounting for more than 74% of employment and contributing 51% of gross domestic product, despite having only limited access to bank credit. In response, ADB provided a $20.8 million private sector loan for Davr Bank to expand local currency financing for underserved MSMEs, including first-time borrowers with no credit history. At least 50% of the onlending will support MSMEs owned or led by women.

 

Helping create the next generation of women entrepreneurs and professionals, ADB committed a policy-based loan to extend science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in Punjab Province, Pakistan. The program will finance the construction of at least 1,700 multipurpose STEM laboratories in selected schools, at least 50% of which will be established in girls’ schools, with a particular focus on marginalized communities where negative social norms discourage female students’ STEM participation. ADB’s $100 million loan for the program is accompanied by a $7 million grant from the ADF.

Building a Healthy Planet

 

Central and West Asian DMCs have called for ongoing development assistance to negate their high exposure to disasters and the changing climate, reverse persistent reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation, and boost agricultural productivity to combat fragilities in food security.

 

ADB support in 2025 was designed to deliver more expansive and innovative disaster financing, support advanced environmental monitoring and early warning systems, accelerate green transformation through major renewable energy investments and regional cooperation, and ramp up digitalization in agriculture and sustainable farming practices.

 

New Responses to Disasters and a Changing Climate

 

The Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan are among the world’s most disaster-prone countries, but limited budget reserves and financial tools make it difficult for them to respond effectively. In 2025, ADB mobilized $53.1 million from the ADF and $3.3 million from the Asia-Pacific Climate Finance Fund to help both countries plan, finance, and manage disaster risks more effectively. The investment centers around an innovative disaster financing program that combines contingent disaster financing—offering rapid budget support for medium-severity disasters—with a disaster relief bond to ensure quick liquidity after major events.

In Tajikistan, higher air temperatures are causing glaciers to shrink rapidly, threatening water supplies during key agricultural seasons, jeopardizing livelihoods, and putting food and energy security at risk. ADB moved to curtail these impacts by approving a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific. The project will strengthen glacier monitoring, build technical skills in hazard forecasting, and improve community-based early warning systems.

 

In 2025, Tajikistan also hosted the first High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation. This resulted in the adoption of the Dushanbe Glaciers Declaration and Appeal, which calls for stronger international cooperation to protect the cryosphere— the parts of the earth covered in ice or snow—and glaciers. ADB was a key partner in the event, providing both financial and technical support.

 

More broadly, ADB is helping nine glacier-dependent countries, including Tajikistan, improve water management and build long-term resilience to the impacts of glacier melt. This assistance is made possible through funding from the bank’s $3.5 billion Glaciers to Farms initiative, supported by the Green Climate Fund.

 

Shaping a Cleaner, Greener Energy Future

 

With Uzbekistan’s economy still dependent on aging gas-fired power generation, ADB made one of its largest-ever renewable energy investments in Central Asia. The

bank supported two major solar and battery storage facilities in Samarkand and Bukhara, which will supply clean electricity to about 600,000 households and avoid 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Financed through a $155 million private financing package from ADB, the project will add 1,000 megawatts of solar power and 1,336 megawatt-hours of storage to Uzbekistan’s grid, along with new transmission lines and two new substations to improve grid stability. ADB additionally coordinated environmental and social standards for the projects.

 

The new plants in Samarkand and Bukhara are complemented by an investment near Guzar, where a $12.5 million private sector loan committed in 2025, along with cofinancing from ADB-administered funds, is helping build a 300-megawatt solar plant with a 75-megawatt-hour battery system.

 

Further expanding Uzbekistan’s clean energy supply, ADB provided a $25.4 million private sector loan and mobilized the same amount to support ACWA Power in developing a wind power and battery storage facility in Qorao’zak District in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The project will also finance new transmission infrastructure and upgrades to the Beruniy substation. It is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 400,000 tons annually and create over 200 jobs.

 

In Turkmenistan, ADB initiated technical assistance in 2025 to help the country expand its solar energy potential. The work will prepare a national solar road map, generate prefeasibility studies, pilot small-scale installations for new solar capacity, and deliver skills training for government agencies and communities. This technical assistance will ultimately help diversify Turkmenistan’s energy mix and reduce reliance on natural gas.

 

ADB technical assistance and a new partnership agreement are also working to bolster energy cooperation across Central and West Asia. In 2025, ADB and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to support a new feasibility study for the Caspian Green Energy Corridor. Part of a broader ADB regional technical assistance initiative, the study will help the three countries develop a shared framework for renewable electricity trade and interconnect their power systems. The Caspian corridor is expected to substantially boost the regional economy by exporting clean energy to Europe via the Black Sea Cable.

Advancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture

 

In Tajikistan, smallholder livestock farming—largely performed by women—is a cornerstone of rural livelihoods, but farmers struggle with animal diseases, weak veterinary systems, and weather-related risks. In 2025, ADB provided a $14 million grant to help these farmers produce healthier animals and earn more stable incomes, while improving access to nutritious food across Tajikistan. The project will set up a national digital livestock system to track animal health, control livestock movement, and certify animals for domestic markets or exports. It will also upgrade pasture areas, equip mobile clinics and veterinary centers with diagnostic tools, improve public breeding services, and offer scholarships to budding women veterinarians.

 

Also promoting a more sustainable agriculture sector in Georgia, ADB provided a $50 million private sector loan for JSC Rustavi Azot to modernize its ammonium nitrate fertilizer facilities and improve energy efficiency at the plants. Complementary technical assistance will educate farmers—especially women farmers—on efficient fertilizer use to protect soil health and boost cropping productivity, while also improving fertilizer access and financial literacy. The project is expected to reduce energy use and cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 120,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, while strengthening the fertilizer supply chain.

 

 

Green and Diversified Growth for Azerbaijan

 

In 2025, ADB launched a new country partnership strategy for Azerbaijan through to 2029. Centered around knowledge work, innovation, and catalytic finance, the strategy focuses on delivering green and diversified growth, promoting low-carbon connectivity, and fostering high-value industries. It also supports stronger implementation of Azerbaijan’s national priorities, such as developing a skilled workforce to build a more competitive economy.

 

 

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) demonstrated economic resilience in 2025, amid subdued consumer and investor confidence and a challenging global environment. Growth in high-technology sectors and exports provided a notable boost, even as the property market remained strained.

 

Reflecting its commitment to fostering high-quality development, the Government of the PRC implemented policies to ease fiscal pressures, stabilize the property market, stimulate household consumption, advance the green transition, and promote innovation. These measures included increased local government bond quotas, a consumer goods and equipment trade-in program, welfare support, and fiscal stimulus to support domestic investment in strategic areas and emerging sectors.

 

In Mongolia, economic growth remained robust. Rising household incomes, supported by higher public sector salaries and an increase in the minimum wage, bolstered domestic consumption. In addition to a record year in mineral exports, the agriculture sector rebounded in 2025 after two consecutive harsh winters, restoring livelihoods for herder communities.

 

ADB’s support for East Asia in 2025 centered on improving the health and employability of the region’s people, enhancing economic and environmental resilience, creating quality jobs, and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. The bank committed $1.1 billion

in the PRC, consisting of $596.9 million in public sector financing and $507.4 million in private sector financing. For Mongolia, ADB committed $276.9 million, consisting of $102.7 million in public sector operations and $174.1 million in private sector financing.

 

With a continued focus on the PRC’s interconnected challenges, ADB advanced a range of transformative projects in 2025. These included operations delivering global public goods that also have an impact outside PRC, such as those addressing climate change and greenhouse gases emissions, and restoring biodiversity and natural ecosystems. The bank also expanded its knowledge work and nonlending operations within the PRC, fostering greater policy dialogue with the government, while also ramping up knowledge sharing and cooperation between the PRC and other ADB developing member countries (DMCs). The ADB–PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), various topical forums, and knowledge exchanges that promoted innovation, productivity, and inclusive development contributed to greater collaboration.

 

ADB’s support for Mongolia was concentrated on strengthening disaster preparedness through advanced systems and technologies, modernizing public transport in the capital Ulaanbaatar, improving the reach and quality of elderly care, and advancing science and technology subjects in secondary schools. The bank also prioritized food security by expanding inclusive financial services in rural areas.

Increasing Prosperity Through Vibrant Economies

 

ADB continues to help the PRC and Mongolia advance policies and investments that will improve the lives and livelihoods of East Asia’s people. Operations in 2025 included supporting agricultural supply chains; improving fiscal sustainability and fairness; promoting evidence-based policymaking to stimulate private enterprise; and fostering regional trade, investment, and knowledge sharing.

 

New Financing for Commercial Agriculture

 

Despite its upper middle-income status, Mongolia continues to face significant development challenges, particularly in rural areas. For instance, although wheat flour is one of the country’s staple foods, local farmers face persistent difficulties arising from the short growing season, harsh weather, and limited market access. Meanwhile, women face ongoing barriers to resources and training.

 

In 2025, ADB signed a $10 million private sector loan with Ulaanbaatar Flour LLC to shore up domestic production, ensure stable food supply, and boost rural income. The loan will help expand procurement from about 250 local wheat farms, more than one-third of which are owned and/or operated by women. Complementary technical assistance will train farmers, particularly women, in sustainable practices and financial management.

 

ADB is also expanding rural financial inclusion and supporting economic diversification in Mongolia. A $100 million loan to Khan Bank JSC will providing access to finance for agricultural and livestock processing enterprises, herders, farmers, and rural micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including women-owned ones.

 

Building Business-Oriented Policy Systems

 

Mongolia continues to lay strong policy foundations for sustainable growth, with ADB supporting the government in enhancing fiscal resilience and stimulating job creation.

These initiatives include measures to increase domestic resource mobilization, promote private investment, and expand opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

 

As one example of ADB’s contribution, technical assistance initiated in 2025 is exploring tax reforms that can balance Mongolia’s taxpayer rights and responsibilities, reduce compliance costs, and counter tax avoidance and evasion, ensuring a fairer and more efficient tax system for individuals, enterprises, and private investors.

 

Mongolia is also prioritizing more evidence-based and coordinated planning and development. ADB is helping the Ministry of Economy and Development strengthen policies and systems to encourage economic diversification and promote business-enabling reforms in key sectors such as agriculture, energy, tourism, trade, and finance. This new technical assistance will also frame the development of an integrated policy and planning database with a centralized geographic information system.

 

ADB has been similarly integral to Mongolia’s fintech and supervisory technology reforms, bringing together key institutions to create a consensus-based approach to comprehensive sector strategies. In partnership with global experts, the bank trained over 60 regulators at a 2-day fintech innovation forum and held other interactive training sessions throughout 2025. ADB also provided a fintech innovation road map drawing from research on global best practices and consultations with the public and private sectors.

 

In the PRC, progress toward high-quality development will require careful rebalancing of the economy. To help improve debt sustainability of local governments, ADB published a policy brief analyzing European best practices in fiscal rules and debt management. As local governments are responsible for most expenditure on

 

 

public services but collect only limited revenues, the brief outlines options for policymakers to reconsider local government revenue sources, improve access to capital markets, and increase fiscal transparency.

 

Knowledge Platforms for Sustainable Long-Term Growth

 

ADB continued to foster the sharing of development lessons among its members through the East Asia Forum 2025 in Beijing, which centered on the key factors driving strong development, innovation, and economic openness. The event attracted 135 participants, including 45 officials from 22 DMCs, who exchanged fresh insights and shared best practices. It was followed by a seminar on artificial intelligence applications in the PRC, discussing how other ADB developing members might benefit from the country’s experiences.

 

Homing in on economic prosperity for the Greater Mekong Subregion, an ADB workshop in Yunnan Province, PRC, explored streamlining trade and investment. The workshop, attended by 47 local officials and private sector representatives, covered topics such as cross-border financial services; public health; food safety; green logistics; and environmental, social, and governance practices.

 

ADB also co-organized the third annual forum on integrity compliance, bringing together stakeholders to share approaches and foster collaboration on business integrity across Asia and the Pacific. The event helped PRC-based suppliers to ADB projects better understand global integrity standards and investigation processes.

 

Promoting People’s Well-Being and Empowerment

 

During 2025, ADB’s operations in East Asia continued to focus on improving access to quality health care, especially for older people and vulnerable communities, while fine-tuning education and skills training,

especially for the region’s youth. The bank reinforced its commitment to advancing opportunities for women and girls through specialized research, knowledge events, and technical assistance. There was also an emphasis on improving the lives of city dwellers while considering long-term urban sustainability.

 

Delivering Quality Health Care and Insurance

 

As Mongolia’s population ages, elderly care services in rural areas are increasingly stretched by a shortage of trained workers and service providers. In response, ADB committed a $3 million grant financed by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific to strengthen the country’s community-based care. In addition to updating the government’s national legal and policy framework for elderly care, the financing will provide medical equipment, ambulances, and diagnostic devices for five facilities and train 200 staff in geriatric services.

 

In the PRC, public health insurance coverage remains insufficient to meet the medical needs of patients, particularly older people. ADB is supporting reforms to the health system to expand national medical insurance coverage and improve digital care models, referral systems, primary health care, and chronic disease management. The initiative will explore new service delivery and payment models to expand access to health care in underserved communities.

 

In a complementary commitment to the PRC’s health insurance market, ADB made an equity investment of the local currency (yuan) equivalent of $37.2 million in Fosun United Health Insurance Company Limited. The investment will expand access to long-term care and medical insurance, with specific considerations for women and older people. Fosun United will also introduce financial literacy programs for women, champion disability inclusion in the workplace, and develop new products tailored to women’s needs.

 

Fostering greater innovation and new treatment in health, ADB committed an equity investment of up to $40 million in Qiming Venture Partners IX-A, L.P., a venture capital fund focused on health care and technology. The investment will help create jobs, spur technological innovation, and embrace small businesses owned or led by women.

 

Better Skills and Income Opportunities

 

As Mongolia transitions to a technology- and knowledge-based economy, demand for new skills is growing. In 2025, ADB committed a $3 million grant financed by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific to advance the teaching of science, technology, and IT

subjects in the country’s secondary schools. The project will benefit about 35,000 students, teachers, and school managers, with an emphasis on young people most in need of support. About 50% of the school placements are allocated to girls and at least 50% of participants will come from marginalized groups, including ger (traditional Mongolian dwelling) communities, herder families, low-income households, and people with disabilities.

 

Further addressing youth unemployment and the growing gap between education and labor market needs, ADB and the Government of Mongolia convened a national forum in Ulaanbaatar in October 2025. Centered on the transition from education to employment for young people, the event attracted more than 250 representatives from government, civil society, the private sector, and development organizations, with in-depth discussions on practical measures for expanding access to quality jobs.

 

The PRC, meanwhile, faces a different set of challenges, with an aging population and declining fertility rates shrinking the workforce, increasing retirement burdens, and straining social support systems. To address labor shortages, ADB is helping the government develop policies that promote family-friendly workplaces and better work–life balance. A technical assistance project initiated in 2025 will assess existing national employment policies, analyze international best practices, and develop policy recommendations.

Protecting and Empowering Women and Girls

 

Violence against women, girls, and children remains a major barrier to Mongolia’s social cohesion, undermining human rights and hindering inclusive economic progress. An ADB study exploring why some men in Mongolia use violence against women and girls underscores the need for coordinated approaches to prevent and address it. Key recommendations include strengthening child protection in schools and dormitories, and expanding mental health support to build violence-free communities.

 

ADB also supported knowledge events in 2025 for the protection and empowerment of women and girls across Asia and the Pacific. In May, ADB and the Government of Mongolia cohosted an international conference on equality for women and resilience. The event convened more than 230 participants from 8 countries and 11 development partners to discuss how actions to build resilience can better include women. The discussions examined measures for improving rural livelihoods, promoting fair access to finance, and supporting women’s leadership.

 

Issues around career advancement for women are similarly evident in underdeveloped areas of the PRC’s Gansu Province, where ADB is providing technical assistance on digital skills programs to expand employment opportunities. The project will train 200 women in digital literacy, support 200 e-commerce entrepreneurs, and generate policy recommendations to enhance women’s participation in the digital economy.

Expanded Access to Essential Services

 

Across East Asia, governments are seeking to make cities more livable, resilient, and inclusive amid rapid urbanization and economic transformation. In the PRC cities of Chibi and Xianning, ADB committed $151.9 million to modernize transport and water systems and to promote safer, more efficient urban services. The project will expand public transport infrastructure, improve digital coordination for flood risks and transport planning, and provide access to a reliable water supply for more than 115,000 households. It will directly benefit 1.1 million people, including more than 530,000 women, 346,900 rural residents, and 24,700 people with disabilities.

 

Building a Healthy Planet

 

ADB committed financing in 2025 for influential projects in biodiversity conservation, disaster risk management, and the clean energy transition across East Asia. These investments, combined with specialized knowledge work, showcased innovative approaches such as nature-based solutions, green fiscal incentives, and developments in pollution reduction and green technologies.

 

Conserving Biodiversity, Managing Disaster Risk

 

The PRC’s Chishui River Basin faces severe ecosystem degradation caused by deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution, threatening the area’s biodiversity and heightening disaster risks. In 2025, ADB committed

$151.9 million to promote nature conservation and low-carbon development in the basin. The project will introduce biodiversity credits to mobilize public and private green funding and directly benefit about 265,000 residents by enhancing river basin management and creating jobs in professions such as solar energy management, ecotourism, and environmental education.

 

Meanwhile, the biodiversity around coastal cities in the PRC’s Fujian Province is increasingly vulnerable to cyclones, flooding, and extreme heat. ADB has responded by committing $144.2 million to strengthen flood risk management and natural ecosystem conservation in the province’s Fuzhou municipality and Yunxiao county, home to two nationally protected wetlands under ADB’s Regional Flyway Initiative. The project will improve drainage systems, biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem services, and technology infrastructure in the Minjiang and Zhangjiang river estuaries, benefiting 4.4 million people. The investment will also restore habitats for migratory waterbirds and support sustainable livelihoods.

 

In Hunan Province, ADB is helping to protect biodiversity-rich ecosystems through a private sector loan in the local currency (yuan) equivalent of $99.8 million for China Water Affairs Group Limited. The investment will finance a new digitally enabled wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 100,000 cubic meters per day, rehabilitate an existing facility, and upgrade aging water supply pipelines in Hunan and other provinces. While enhancing water quality

and supply, the investment also supports Hunan’s efforts to protect a globally significant wetland within the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

 

Supported by RKSI, a delegation of parliamentarians and government officials from Mongolia visited the PRC, where they exchanged experiences on desertification control, grassland restoration, and waste management. The delegation visited ADB project sites around Chao Lake and learned about initiatives to transform the livestock sector into a green, integrated value chain.

 

Throughout 2025, Mongolia’s weather-related disasters continued to inflict severe socioeconomic and health impacts, especially among women and herder communities. ADB committed $30 million in loans and a $2 million grant from the Asian Development Fund to enhance early warning systems for dzuds (severe winter conditions), floods, storms, wildfires, and earthquakes. An estimated 3.5 million people will benefit from improved preparedness and response capacity to local and national disasters.

 

Advancing cross-border collaboration on disaster risk management, ADB initiated technical assistance to the PRC on earthquake science, including the creation of a regional information-sharing platform. The program promotes the use of artificial intelligence and large-scale modeling to establish real-time earthquake monitoring systems and guide disaster mitigation strategies. Such advancements are particularly relevant for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), countries that are situated in a region prone to seismic and volcanic activity.

 

Investments to Accelerate the Green Transition

 

In the PRC’s Sichuan Province—where methane emissions from rice cultivation and other unsustainable agricultural practices are a major source of greenhouse gases—ADB committed a $142.8 million results-based lending program to encourage greener alternatives. The investment will help train 50,000 farmers, including 22,500 women and 5,000 people from vulnerable groups, in low-carbon agriculture. The project is expected to enhance climate resilience across 35,000 hectares of farmland and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2032.

 

Extending its focus beyond agriculture, ADB committed a $100.1 million private sector loan to financial leasing company Far East Horizon Limited to help the firm’s commercial and industrial clients transition to cleaner production methods. By promoting leasing as an alternative to bank financing, the project will enable enterprises to overcome up-front cost barriers and deploy green technologies such as smart energy systems and energy-efficient manufacturing.

Sharing Knowledge for Cleaner Air and Greener Growth

 

ADB continued to share lessons from the PRC on improving air quality and promoting green innovation, with a number of notable knowledge events held in 2025.

 

In March, an RKSI seminar brought together senior policymakers from India, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand to discuss how the PRC’s experiences in air quality management can guide efforts to combat air pollution in developing countries.

 

Additionally, ADB published a working paper outlining how its collaboration with the PRC—including on policy and regulatory reform, the adoption of low-carbon technologies in small and medium-sized enterprises, and the development of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems—has helped improve air quality management in the Greater Beijing−Tianjin−Hebei region.

 

In April, ADB and the Hong Kong Green Finance Association cohosted a knowledge-sharing event to explore ways of scaling up investment in green technologies, enhancing climate resilience, and supporting sustainable finance initiatives across Asia and the Pacific. A panel of private sector experts shared their experiences in driving innovation for green business practices.

 

 

Diversified and Inclusive Growth in Mongolia

 

During 2025, ADB launched a new country partnership strategy for Mongolia through to 2028. The updated strategy focuses on public sector and macroeconomic management; sustainability and resilience through policy reforms, green finance, and infrastructure investments; and improvements in education, health, and social protection. Crosscutting initiatives will advance private sector development, climate action, governance, digitalization, and gender equality.

 

 

The Pacific region delivered sustained economic growth in 2025, thanks to improved commodity output, higher public spending, and the ongoing recovery in tourism activity.

 

In the region’s largest economy, Papua New Guinea (PNG), strong mining and liquefied natural gas production, together with higher agricultural exports, drove economic expansion. Robust mineral exports also underpinned growth in Solomon Islands, while visitor arrivals continued to rise across many of the Pacific’s tourism-dependent economies. In contrast, Vanuatu’s post-pandemic economic recovery was hindered by the December 2024 earthquake.

 

Public spending continued to drive growth in many Pacific economies, particularly in smaller island and atoll countries. However, capacity constraints, undersized local workforces, and institutional gaps hampered the implementation of some initiatives. Political transitions and elections in several countries also temporarily affected the delivery of government programs. For instance, Samoa’s snap elections in August 2025 slowed government operations for a short period, but the passing of the new budget is likely to bring public spending back on track.

 

Against this backdrop, ADB’s engagement in the Pacific during 2025 prioritized ongoing economic sustainability while advancing structural reforms, strengthening 

environmental resilience, and promoting regional cooperation. The bank emphasized quality policy, legislative, and regulatory environments for its Pacific developing member countries (DMCs), helping build an enabling environment to boost private sector activity while encouraging sustainable development.

 

In 2025, ADB committed $679.8 million for its Pacific DMCs, including $214.4 million in grants from the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The bank also provided technical assistance to support capacity building, policy development, and sector studies across the region.

 

ADB continues to invest in country collaboration and regional engagement as a central tenet of its operations in the Pacific. The establishment of its Solomon Islands Resident Mission, which was formally opened in February 2026, marks a key milestone for development relations and shores up ADB’s long-term commitment to the country.

 

In 2025, a high-level ADB mission participated in the 50th anniversary of PNG’s independence. The bank’s representatives met with key government officials and private sector stakeholders to highlight ADB’s commitment to driving connectivity and inclusive growth, showcasing how strategic investments and close partnerships have transformed lives across the country.

Increasing Prosperity Through Vibrant Economies

 

Throughout 2025, ADB dedicated significant financial and knowledge resources to attracting and growing private enterprise in the Pacific. These objectives were underpinned by investments to expand access to business finance and foster innovation in commercial activities. The bank also continued to help Pacific governments plan and implement viable infrastructure projects and expand financial services for the people of the Pacific. ADB’s policy-based lending programs supported improvements in tax systems, budget planning, and the broader business environment, laying stronger foundations for long-term growth and greater private investment.

 

Expanded Support for Private Sector Development

 

Across ADB’s 14 developing members in the Pacific, the private sector contributes an average of just 44% of gross domestic product, well below the global average of 60%. This reflects the impacts of small and fragile economies, high operating costs, limited access to services, and institutional capacity constraints.

 

In 2025, ADB ramped up efforts to boost private sector participation in the Pacific—a market often overlooked by traditional investors—by launching the Pacific Wayfinder program. Designed to support job creation and boost innovation while contributing to the development of capital markets, the program comprises a suite of tailored tools— including concessional finance and technical assistance—to help businesses access finance more quickly and scale up investment in the region. Pacific Wayfinder complements ADB’s broader work on regulatory reforms and project preparation to stimulate private sector engagement.

 

At the core of the Pacific’s private sector aspirations are the region’s small and medium-sized enterprises, which remain key drivers of jobs and economic growth. These enterprises, however, often struggle to access capital because of collateral requirements and perceived risks.

 

ADB’s Frontier program is helping fill this gap and deepen local capital markets to enable finance for smaller enterprises that have the potential to transform and strengthen local industries. With 2025 as its first full year of operation in the Pacific, the program has signed five cost-recoverable technical assistance agreements across the region. Three of these are with enterprises in Fiji: a saltwater prawn producer helping commercialize the prawn industry and promote food security; a renewable-energy company installing on- and off-grid solutions for commercial and residential businesses; and a performance arts company creating jobs for local youth. Another agreement has been signed with a bakery creating local jobs in Samoa, while the fifth involves an aerial mapping company that is improving coastal data collection and usability across the Pacific.

 

To grow the private sector in Niue, ADB provided technical assistance to support the national statistics office in conducting the country’s first-ever census of business establishments. The result is a comprehensive baseline of private sector data—including business characteristics, ownership, employment, and operational barriers—to guide future policy and investment decisions.

 

Improving Services via Sustainable Infrastructure

 

Infrastructure development in the Pacific has long been inhibited by limited government resources, a lack of local expertise and contractor governance, and low private sector participation.

 

In 2025, ADB worked with Pacific DMCs to strengthen procurement practices and deliver higher-quality, more-sustainable infrastructure projects. This included an ADB-led initiative to establish a roster of qualified consulting firms, enabling governments to access experienced designers and construction supervisors more quickly and manage performance more effectively. Pacific DMCs continued to use merit-point evaluations to select contractors under ADB-financed projects,

 

 

while promoting local participation in contracts and engaging the market early. Such measures help to increase competition for contracts and enhance the local economic benefits of ADB-financed projects.

 

In parallel, ADB provided technical assistance to the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga to help strengthen how public–private partnerships are planned and managed. The assistance supports governments in identifying, structuring, and implementing viable public-private partnership projects, while improving risk management and long-term service delivery.

 

Measures for More Inclusive and Fairer Growth

 

Despite having the largest finance sector in the Pacific, about 80% of PNG’s population has either limited or no access to banking services. This imbalance exists largely because of regulatory gaps, geographic barriers, low literacy and employment levels, and high poverty rates. As part of its broader efforts to overcome these inequities, ADB committed a $100 million loan in 2025 supporting the Government of PNG’s finance sector development strategy. The program will expand access to financial services for households and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; reinforce the regulatory and supervisory framework for financial institutions; and enhance sector integrity.

 

ADB also advanced regional dialogue to ensure long-term prosperity by keeping Pacific economies connected to the global financial system. In April, the bank convened a solutions lab on correspondent bank de-risking, exploring topics such as artificial intelligence-driven compliance, stronger digital identity systems, and regulatory innovations. The session produced a road map for immediate and longer-term reforms, with key takeaways also shared at the 5th Asia Finance Forum and Singapore FinTech Festival.

 

Fairness in taxation is vital to creating dynamic economies that deliver equitable and inclusive growth. In 2025, ADB and the Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association held a clinic on transfer pricing and information exchange

for high-risk industries. The workshop strengthened tax officials’ skills in identifying high-risk cases, conducting transfer pricing audits, and using information-exchange mechanisms. Participants also discussed practical actions to improve compliance and transparency across the Pacific.

 

Promoting People’s Well-Being and Empowerment

 

During 2025, communities across the Pacific continued to face difficulties due to weather-related events, disrupted access to essential services, shortfalls in health care provision, and barriers to women’s career and livelihood opportunities. In response, ADB disbursed emergency relief funding and made investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and transport assets, disease prevention and treatment, and programs that allow women to participate more fully in the economy. This public and private sector financing was supported by a combination of specialist publication releases and knowledge events.

 

Providing Relief at Critical Times

 

In the aftermath of the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that shook Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, in December 2024, ADB provided critical support into 2025. The event triggered landslides and caused widespread damage that left more than 80,000 people, including more than 14,000 children, in urgent need. Following $5 million in emergency support provided in late 2024, ADB disbursed another $0.5 million from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund in January 2025. This combined financing supported immediate relief and early recovery efforts such as the delivery of emergency aid packages, restoration of essential services, and assistance to help households begin rebuilding their lives.

 

The earthquake also severely disrupted access to Port Vila’s main wharves, with immediate and longer-term consequences for travel, trade, and essential services. In response, ADB committed a $24.4 million grant from the ADF to rehabilitate the partially damaged wharf road using disaster-resilient materials and structures. The project will restore safe access for local communities and about 110,000 people who arrive on cruise ships annually. The ADB investment will additionally help improve government expertise in weather-resilient road design, procurement, and contract management.

 

New Investments to Connect Communities

 

On Tongatapu, Tonga’s main island, climate threats— including coastal flooding, cyclones, and sea-level rise— continue to jeopardize critical infrastructure, livelihoods, and access to essential services. ADB committed an $80 million ADF grant and expects to get $40 million in

cofinancing from the World Bank to build a 720-meter bridge across the island’s Fanga'uta Lagoon. The financing will also help construct 2.1 kilometers of approach roads, upgrade drainage and water supply systems, and improve road network management. The project is a first for ADB, serving as the lead lender, under the Full Mutual Reliance Framework with the World Bank.

 

Connectivity is equally important in PNG, where air travel over mountainous terrain remains essential for remote communities. Because the local airline, Air Niugini, has an aging fleet with high maintenance costs and regular service disruptions, ADB is financing predelivery payments for six Airbus A220-100 aircraft. With the payments financed under two private sector loans—$19 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and $16.9 million through the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund 2—the new Airbuses will replace less reliable and fuel-inefficient planes.

 

Expansion in Disease Treatment and Prevention

 

Pacific island countries have some of the world’s highest rates of premature death from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. In Vanuatu, the growing NCD burden is placing increasing pressure on already-limited health services. In 2025, ADB committed a $10 million ADF grant to expand access to quality NCD care across the northern provinces of Malampa, Penama, Sanma, and Torba, including establishing a dedicated NCD clinic in

Luganville. The project is expected to benefit more than 150,000 people, reduce NCD caseloads in Vanuatu’s hospitals, and promote healthier lifestyles.

 

Supporting Business and Leadership Roles for Women

 

Women entrepreneurs in the Pacific continue to face a range of barriers to starting and/or growing a business. An ADB report released in 2025 examines how fiscal policies oriented to women—such as simpler tax rules, streamlined administration requirements, and better use of sex-disaggregated data—can reduce these barriers and help women-led businesses prosper. The report highlights practical reforms to improve access to markets, commercial assets, and business finance, along with recommendations to assist women with registering or formalizing a business.

 

Some of the barriers noted in the report are experienced by women in Tonga, where the climate -vulnerable economy constrains entrepreneurship and women often lack access to finance and business support. ADB is working to resolve these issues through a $9 million project, financed by the ADF, to foster entrepreneurship by Tongan women. This project will introduce financing tools—including Tonga’s first risk-sharing facility that supports borrowers with their repayments—and tailored advisory services for women, while improving data systems to support financial products and services that are inclusive for women. It aims to expand access

to finance for at least 300 women entrepreneurs and enable about 200 businesses to transition into the formal economy.

 

Despite progress in some areas, significant gaps remain in women’s leadership across the region. The Pacific Women Leaders Program aims to build the confidence, skills, and networks women need to inspire and influence others. In June 2025, the program trained 20 senior women leaders from PNG’s state-owned enterprises and private sector organizations. Later that month, the program was held for the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau, bringing together 21 women leaders from government ministries, civil society organizations, and ADB country offices.

 

Strengthening Partnerships with Civil Society

 

In October 2025, ADB held a Civil Society Partnership Days event in PNG, which brought together representatives from the Government of PNG and civil society organizations to strengthen dialogue and collaboration. The event gathered nearly 100 participants to discuss how civil society contributes to service delivery, policy engagement, and opportunities for development partnership. This third Civil Society Partnership Days event, which followed similar events in Bhutan and Mongolia, continued to emphasize collaboration, knowledge sharing, and building practical skills for effective engagement in ADB operations.

 

Building a Healthy Planet

 

ADB continues to help Pacific governments respond to growing pressures, including from sea level rise and extreme weather events. In 2025, the bank’s focus was on expanding clean energy generation, strengthening disaster resilience, and promoting more environmentally sustainable resource use. By improving energy security, reducing vulnerability to extreme weather, and protecting unique ecosystems, ADB is striving to secure and improve the livelihoods of people in the Pacific.

 

Diverse Solutions for Renewable Energy

 

Fiji aims to achieve 90% clean energy by 2035, but current renewable generation is at about 50%. To bring the target closer, ADB is providing Energy Fiji Limited with technical assistance on high-priority studies that will inform solar, wind, and electricity grid projects valued at $103 million. These efforts are expected to boost renewable energy use, cut emissions, and deliver more reliable power to households and businesses.

 

National clean energy targets are also being jeopardized by infrastructure gaps and institutional limitations across Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. In 2025, ADB initiated technical assistance to advance sector policy and strategy, improve project development, expand stakeholder coordination, and engage private sector investors across the three countries. The bank’s input is focused on

supporting these countries to reach their goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.

 

In Samoa, recurring power shortages—including a 30-day state of emergency in March 2025—highlight persistent reliability challenges and dependence on imported petroleum. By providing the Australian dollar equivalent of $2.8 million as a private sector loan, ADB is helping Sun Pacific Energy Limited expand its 4.2-megawatt-peak solar farm on Upolu island (partly funded by ADB in 2017) to 6 megawatts. The upgraded facility, which will generate 9.6 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually and avoid 1,944 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, supports Samoa’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2030 and achieving at least 70% renewable energy by 2031.

 

Inadequate power supply also remains a major challenge in PNG, where fewer than 20% of people have access to electricity. To help modernize the country’s power sector, ADB committed a $100 million loan supporting policy reforms and targeted investments, while promoting renewable energy development and private sector participation. The program aims to increase PNG’s electricity access to 30% by 2030, halve the duration of power interruptions, and improve the national utility’s financial sustainability.

 

The loan to PNG was complemented by a national power sector forum that was held to draw on the experiences and expertise of senior government officials, representatives of academia and the private sector, and specialists from development organizations. Discussions focused on two strategic priorities: strengthening infrastructure planning to accelerate electrification and renewable energy; and improving financial sustainability through reforms, privatization, and tariff frameworks. The forum produced a road map and reform framework to guide sector development to 2030.

 

Recognizing capacity constraints across the Pacific’s small island developing states, ADB hosted a regional knowledge event alongside the Asia Clean Energy Forum. Policymakers, regulators, utilities, and development partners participated in workshops covering clean energy transitions, regulatory reform, artificial intelligence-enabled utility management, and cross-sector development. The event strengthened regional cooperation and equipped Pacific stakeholders with practical tools to advance sustainable energy systems.

 

Managing Disaster Risks and Environmental Assets

 

Pacific DMCs are highly vulnerable to climate and disaster risks, which can severely disrupt social and economic progress. ADB’s long-term support for disaster risk

 

management in the Pacific was expanded in 2025, when the bank initiated technical assistance to design and implement innovative disaster risk financing mechanisms. The assistance, financed by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, will expand financing options, enhance regional collaboration and data-sharing, and support measures that reflect the different needs of men and women in Pacific island countries.

 

In Fiji, rapid urbanization and aging water infrastructure strain the water supply in the Greater Suva Area and contribute to rising marine pollution. ADB responded in 2025 by committing a $135 million loan and a $10 million ADF grant to upgrade the Kinoya wastewater treatment plant, benefiting more than 295,000 people. The project will use a performance-based contract to cut water losses to at least 30% and double wastewater treatment to improve the health of Laucala Bay’s mangrove forests and coral reefs.

 

Through its Law and Policy Reform Program, ADB also supported the drafting of Fiji’s new Forestry Bill (passed by Parliament in late 2025) to replace the 1992 Forest Act. Shaped by extensive consultations with communities, government agencies, industry players, landowners, and civil society, the new bill establishes a holistic framework that promotes livelihoods, climate resilience, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.

 

Building Blue Economy Growth in Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu

 

In 2025, ADB published a paper setting out practical options for the atoll nations of Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu to use their marine resources more sustainably. Outlining evidence-based policies, opportunities for regional cooperation, and priority investment areas, the paper’s insights can guide governments in driving sustainable blue economy growth across vulnerable island communities.

 

 

Despite heightened global trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty, South Asian economies remained broadly resilient in 2025. Across much of the region, stronger agricultural output and favorable weather conditions helped ease food prices, allowing inflation to moderate.

 

India’s economy continued to grow robustly, driven by ongoing infrastructure investment, a rebound in agriculture, and buoyant services exports that cushioned the impact of elevated tariffs.

 

Bhutan also maintained solid growth, supported by hydropower development and continued recovery in tourism and agriculture. In Maldives, tourism remained the main growth driver, complemented by a strong fisheries sector, although rising public debt and low foreign exchange reserves pose concerns.

 

Nepal’s economy grew steadily in the first half of 2025, supported by a favorable monsoon and increased electricity generation, but civil unrest in September dampened business activity and tourism. Similarly, political uncertainty in Bangladesh contributed to softer growth and weaker domestic demand, which was also impacted by tight fiscal and monetary policies.

 

For most of the year, Sri Lanka continued its economic recovery, with improved consumption, strong remittance inflows, and a rise in private credit. Fiscal reforms remained on track. However, the country’s prospects may

be dampened by the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah, which struck in late November, causing extensive loss of life and damage to property and infrastructure.

 

Across much of the region, stronger agricultural output and favorable weather conditions helped ease food prices, allowing inflation to moderate in 2025.

 

ADB responded quickly in the aftermath of the cyclone in Sri Lanka, providing a $3 million grant from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund to support emergency relief and humanitarian efforts in flood-ravaged communities. This was soon followed by $40 million in emergency trade finance assistance to help finance essential imports, including medicines and critical supplies, as Sri Lanka rebuilds.

 

This vital support was part of the bank’s total commitments of $9.7 billion for South Asia in 2025, comprising $7.8 billion in public sector finance and $1.8 billion for private sector operations.

 

ADB’s investments for its South Asian developing member countries generally responded to demand for better infrastructure, broader environmental resilience, increased social protection, faster digital transformation, and greater private sector activity. The bank also committed significant resources to advancing regional cooperation, especially in trade and value chain integration.

Increasing Prosperity Through Vibrant Economies

 

Helping people to prosper and communities to flourish relies on expanding economic opportunities, fostering sustainable livelihoods, and improving financial inclusion for both households and enterprises. In 2025, ADB’s operations in South Asia enabled developing member countries to promote entrepreneurship, spur private sector participation, drive engagement in the digital economy, strengthen financial and budgetary systems, and support strong and equitable economic growth.

 

Support for Sustainable and Inclusive Enterprise

 

In India’s northeastern state of Tripura, a lack of quality infrastructure is deterring private investment and limiting job creation and manufacturing-led growth. Building on earlier work to support economic and industrial corridor development, ADB committed $85.4 million in 2025 to upgrade nine industrial estates with weather-resilient roads and drainage; reliable power distribution; and improved water, sanitation, and security systems. The project will introduce buses fueled by natural gas and electric vehicles supported by charging stations in key industrial estates. This ADB investment has been made to enhance Tripura’s integration into regional value chains, with special considerations for businesses owned or led by women and the promotion of women’s employment through new day care centers and skills programs.

 

Helping create a future-ready workforce for India’s manufacturing and emerging technology sectors, ADB committed $846 million in financing to support the country’s national flagship skilling program. The investment will help upgrade 650 industrial training institutes across 12 states to modernize them into industry-driven centers of excellence, boosting skills and improving the employability of 1.3 million youth in the manufacturing and emerging technology sectors.

Throughout South Asia, citizens and businesses increasingly expect governments to provide digital systems, solutions, and services necessary to power modern economies, with digital public infrastructure— the foundation for digital identification, digital payments, and data sharing—becoming the catalyst for more-efficient public services and longer-term growth. Released in 2025, a new ADB study examines the digital public infrastructure landscape in South Asia, highlighting India’s role as a leading practitioner and knowledge hub, and identifying opportunities for investment, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.

 

Digital technologies are also a key element of new ADB technical assistance to develop a framework for economic corridor development and regional trade and value chain integration. This work combines analytical studies, capacity building, and policy dialogue to better link physical infrastructure, digital systems, institutions, and value chains across six participating countries. By aligning national corridor initiatives and identifying opportunities for cross-border integration, the assistance aims to improve trade connectivity and industrial competitiveness across South Asia.

 

More Inclusive Financial and Fiscal Systems

 

The banking sector dominates Bangladesh’s financial system, but years of weak governance, inadequate oversight, and poor capitalization have hindered its ability to deliver efficient and inclusive services. These issues constrain access to credit, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, and limit financial inclusion for many households.

 

In 2025, ADB provided $500 million to strengthen Bangladesh’s banking supervision, improve governance and asset quality, and modernize liquidity management. The program will encourage digitalization and expand access to affordable finance to drive stronger growth in the private sector and help stabilize the banking sector.

 

In Nepal, the transition to federalism has highlighted weaknesses in public financial management. These weaknesses affect expenditure planning and debt management at the national level and resource planning and management at the subnational and local levels. Supporting structural fiscal reforms, ADB committed $100 million for a second subprogram that is helping improve Nepal’s expenditure and debt management and resource planning. Key policy actions include adopting a strengthened legal framework and strategy for debt management; reforming public enterprises; and digitizing expenditure recording across federal, provincial, and local governments.

 

Fostering Jobs and Growth Through Tourism

 

Tourism is central to the economies of Maldives and Sri Lanka, creating jobs, driving foreign exchange earnings, and linking communities to global markets. To sustain growth and reduce vulnerability to external economic shocks, both countries are working to broaden their tourism appeal and encourage private sector participation.

 

Through a series of workshops in 2025, ADB and Maldives’ Ministry of Economic Development and Trade brought together tourism stakeholders to develop new products and business concepts that are linked to culture and heritage and reflect emerging tourism trends. The ministry has since established an intellectual property office that protects the rights of innovators and opens pathways for creative entrepreneurs to earn from their creations.

 

In Sri Lanka, the tourism sector continues to recover from successive external shocks, but underlying weaknesses, such as shortfalls in infrastructure and limited private sector engagement, are hindering its performance. ADB has responded by committing $100 million in 2025 to improve sector governance and asset management, boost promotion and marketing of sustainable tourism, update vendor skills training, and advance digitalization.

 

Targeting two major tourism destinations, Dambulla (including Sigiriya) and Trincomalee, the program seeks to open up untapped areas, including marine tourism, increase visitor stay and spend, and encourage women’s participation in the sector.

 

Promoting People’s Well-Being and Empowerment

 

From its remote rural villages to its rapidly growing cities, the South Asia region continues to call for significant investment in essential services and critical infrastructure. ADB’s investments and knowledge work in 2025 sought to improve basic living standards; reinforce health and social protection systems; empower women by providing access to finance and jobs; and deliver vital infrastructure that can boost trade, better connect communities, and improve urban life.

 

Essential Services for Communities in Need

 

In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh continues to host more than 1 million displaced people from Myanmar, placing a heavy strain on local infrastructure and services. ADB reaffirmed its support with a $58.6 million grant from the Asian Development Fund and a $28.1 million loan to upgrade migrant camp facilities and improve infrastructure in host communities. This includes expanding access to safe water and sanitation and installing 12,500 solar-powered streetlights to improve safety, particularly for women and children. By reducing pressure on local resources, the project will help improve cohesion between camp residents and their host communities.

 

The people of Sri Lanka are also in need of support as the health system strains under an aging population and a rise in noncommunicable diseases. In 2025, ADB committed a $100 million loan to upgrade 82 hospitals, modernize diagnostic capacity across 9 public health laboratories, and establish a national Center for Disease Control. Investments in digital health, procurement systems, and staff training—including for more than 5,000 health workers—will improve service quality and efficiency. The program is expected to benefit more than 10 million people, contributing to better care and curtailing future health threats.

 

Supporting Businesses Owned by Women

 

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises owned by women are essential to India’s economy but many still face difficulties accessing credit due to lack of income records, collateral constraints, and limited digital and financial literacy. ADB is helping bridge this gap through

a $100 million private sector loan to Five Star Business Finance Limited, a nonbank lender in southern India. Targeting lower-income women borrowers, the initiative will expand lending by using tailored income-assessment methods to qualify loans, helping women entrepreneurs grow their businesses and participate more fully in the economy.

 

Access to credit also remains limited for enterprises owned or led by women in Sri Lanka, despite recent improvements in the country’s financial stability. In 2025, ADB committed a third $100 million policy-based loan to complete a series of structural reforms that will enhance banking governance, improve asset quality, and expand financial inclusion. A key outcome of the program is the establishment of the National Credit Guarantee Institution Limited, which helps micro and small enterprises, especially those owned by women, overcome collateral constraints and secure the financing they need to start or grow businesses.

 

Modernizing Transport and Essential Services

 

Bangladesh’s inadequate transport infrastructure continues to raise business costs, reduce competitiveness, and limit regional trade. In 2025, ADB committed $688 million to upgrade and construct a key section of railway between Chattogram and Dohazari, which is part of a South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation

 

corridor. This investment will help improve passenger and freight movement, support resilient railway operations, and introduce energy-efficient locomotives. With training for railway staff further enhancing safety and operational standards, the improved connectivity is expected to reduce travel times, increase intraregional trade, and support Bangladesh’s goal of becoming a regional transport hub.

 

In Sri Lanka—where rural communities continue to endure poor road conditions that restrict access to markets, schools, and essential services—ADB committed $90 million to complete critical works delayed during the 2022 economic crisis. The support includes upgrading about 500 kilometers (km) of rural access roads, rehabilitating 23 km of national roads, and improving 100 km of rural roads to all-weather standards. The project will improve mobility and services for around 800,000 people and nearly half its works will be in the conflict-affected Northern and Eastern provinces.

 

To complement investments in urban transport and services, ADB copublished a concept framework on creative redevelopment with the Government of India and the World Bank. The framework outlines practical solutions to transforming urban spaces using approaches that integrate land use with transport and economic planning.

ADB is applying the principles of the framework in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim, where seven rapidly growing towns continue to face gaps in water supply, sanitation, mobility, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. In 2025, the bank provided a $179.1 million loan to ensure continuous water supply; upgrade sanitation facilities; and modernize transit hubs with parking management, commercial zones, and community spaces that double as disaster relief centers. In addition, upgraded roads, stormwater drains, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure will enhance safety and accessibility across all seven towns, benefiting more than 100,000 residents.

 

Building a Healthy Planet

 

Building environmentally resilient communities and infrastructure, accelerating the clean energy transition, and reinforcing food and water security are core elements of sustainable economic development. ADB financing and specialist knowledge in 2025 helped protect communities from the impacts of extreme weather, advance renewable power and modernize electricity systems, and scale irrigation solutions that improve agricultural productivity and safeguard livelihoods.

 

Holistic Initiatives in Resilience

 

Phuentsholing, one of Bhutan’s major economic centers, faces persistent weather- and disaster-related risks, largely due to its location in a seismically active,

landslide-prone area of the Himalayan foothills. Despite previous development works, the town continues to experience monsoon-related flooding and rapid debris flows along the Omchhu River. In 2025, ADB committed a $30 million loan and a $15 million Asian Development Fund grant to reinforce flood protection; pilot ground-stabilization measures; and bolster risk mapping, monitoring, and disaster preparedness. Through better planning and by improving riverbank stability, the project will make daily life safer for about 12,500 residents while supporting sustainable riverfront development.

 

The financing package for Phuentsholing was accompanied by an ADB development effectiveness brief that outlines the wide spectrum of initiatives supporting the city’s development. As well as flood protection, the brief analyzes measures to streamline customs processes, upgrade road transport, and improve housing and health services, while also looking at ways to support women entrepreneurs as part of Phuentsholing’s sustainable and inclusive transformation.

 

Fast-Tracking Energy Affordability and Accessibility

 

India, with the world’s largest population, has become a focal point for accelerating the global clean energy transition. Meeting future demand will require new generation capacity, more-reliable power transmission, better storage solutions, and weather-resilient