Closing Address by the Chair, Board of Governors and Alternate Governor for India

Dr. Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs During the Concluding Business Session of 46th Adb Annual Meeting of Board of Governors Today

Following is the text of the address made by the Chair, Board of Governors and Alternate Governor for India

Dr. Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs

during concluding Business Session of 46th ADB Annual Meeting Of Board Of Governors at IEML, Greater Noida today:

Distinguished Governors,

President ADB,

Ladies and gentlemen:

The 46th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank now draws to a close. On behalf of the Government of India, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to fellow Governors, ADB President, Management and staff, and all the participants for their cooperation and contribution to the success of this annual meeting. I am also grateful to the Governors of Georgia and Switzerland, for their assistance as Vice Chairs. I would also like to thank the meeting secretariat for their hard work in making this annual event a success.

It has been four days of lively discussion, and I am gratified that we emerge from our deliberations with a broad-based consensus on ADB’s continuing key role in the development of Asia and the Pacific. I believe the meeting provided an excellent opportunity to exchange views on pressing agenda items. We covered many development issues, including poverty reduction, and had lively discussions on the future direction of ADB.

The theme of this Annual Meeting Development through Empowerment has been very topical. It is engaging the attention of all the developing countries. This is also the secret key to inclusive growth. Looking to the future, it will be more important than ever to ensure that growth is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and inclusive. ADB has the experience and the expertise to make a significant contribution to achieving this objective and making Asia and the Pacific a model for other regions of the world.

Finally, I would like to call on all of us – ADB’s members and shareholders – to continue working together to support ADB. By doing so, we can all make a lasting contribution to development that improves the living standards of the Asia-Pacific’s poorest citizens. I take this opportunity to welcome the new Chair of the Board of Governors, Mr. Yerbolat Dossayev, the Governor for Kazakhstan. I am sure he will guide ADB to fulfill its commitment to the region with renewed vigour. We look forward to another fruitful meeting next year in Astana.

I trust that your stay in National Capital Region of Delhi has been a happy experience while giving you the chance to hold fruitful discussions. Thank you all for being a part of this occasion and for your valuable contributions. I wish you a safe and pleasant journey back home.

Thank you.

DSM/RS

(Release ID :95587)

Development through empowerment: reaffirming ADB's role in inclusive, sustainable growth and urging continued member support. Reaffirmation of ADB's mandate to pursue Development through Empowerment as the central policy for promoting poverty reduction and economically, socially and environmentally sustainable, inclusive growth; and an appeal to member states and shareholders for continued cooperation and support for ADB's programs and governance, together with the formal welcome to the incoming Chair of the Board of Governors.