Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

14-October-2011 18:10 IST

Union Finance Minister to Inaugurate and Address the Eminent Persons’ Forum to Mark the Commemorative Activities Relating to 25 Years of India ADB Partnership

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the Eminent Persons’ Forum along with the President, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mr. Haruhiko Koruda, on Monday, 17th, October.2011 in the national capital to mark the commemoration of the 25 years of India-ADB partnership. This will be followed by panel discussions, in which eminent personalities and experts will participate. Among others, Secretary for Finance, Government of Republic of the Philippines and Minister of Finance II, Malaysia, will also participate in a panel Session on the theme ‘Realizing the Asian Century’, which will be chaired by the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

Another Panel Discussion will be on the subject of India and Asian Century: “Sustaining Growth, Ensuring Inclusiveness,” which will be chaired by Shri R.Gopalan, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India. Other panelists include Mr. Patricia Hewitt, Chair of the UK India Business Council. Shri Kaushik Basu, Chief Economic Adivsor, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Changyong Rhee, Chief Economist, ADB, Shri Arvind Panagariya Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy Columbia University and Mr. Shankar Acharya , Honorary Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations.

The third and final session would be on the subject of Managing Change in a Resurgent Asia. This Session will be chaired by Shri Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, The day-long commemorative activities are jointly organized by the Govt. of India and ADB and will also include launch of two publications that showcase development projects initiated by both partners.

ADB started its landing operations in India in 1986 and has so far advanced loans worth 24 billion dollars for over 150 projects. It currently operates in more than 20 States in the country.

DSM/SS/PM

India-ADB partnership commemorative forum marks long-term cooperation, featuring high-level panels on Asian growth and inclusiveness. A commemorative forum inaugurates a milestone in the India-ADB partnership with high-level panels on realizing Asia's economic potential, sustaining inclusive growth, and managing change, chaired by senior government officials and featuring international economists; the joint India-ADB event also launches two publications showcasing development projects and notes ADB's extensive operational presence and cumulative lending for projects in India.