Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

02-May-2012 14:56 IST

Finance Minister to Leave for Three-Day Official Visit to Manila And Dhaka Tomorrow; to Take over the Chair for Next ADB Annual Board of Governors’

Meeting to be held in Delhi in May 2013; to Attend Concluding Ceremony of 150th Anniversary of Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore in Dhaka

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee will leave for two day official visit to Manila on the evening of 3rd May, 2012 to attend Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) 45th Annual Board of Governors’ Meeting. The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee will attend the Opening Session of the Board of Governors on the morning of 4th May, 2012. In the afternoon, the Finance Minister would address the First Business Session of the Board of Governors. In this Session, the issues relating to global economic situation, inclusive growth, infrastructure development, urbanization, energy security, regional and South-South Cooperation are likely to be discussed among others. Later, he would hold bilateral meetings with Mr Akihiko Tanaka, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as well as with his counterparts from Bangladesh and Bhutan.

On 5th May, 2012, the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee will attend the Second Business Session of Board of Governors. There he will take over the Chair of the Board of Governors till the next Annual Meeting i.e. 46th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors which is scheduled to be held in Delhi next year i.e. in May, 2013. Later, the Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee will have a meeting with Mr Haruhiko Kuroda, President, Asian Development Bank. Both the leaders are likely to discuss the need to work closely by India and ADB in order to promote South Asia Sub Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC). India may ask ADB to cover new ground through study and research on how Asian countries can manage a sustainable, robust and inclusive growth.

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee would later on 5th May, 2012 launch the Website for Delhi 2013 ADB Annual Meeting along with President, ADB. The Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee would later address a Press Conference. In the afternoon, the Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee would hold a bilateral meeting with his Philippines counterpart Mr Cesar V Purisma, Secretary, Department of Finance. Before his departure for Dhaka, the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee is also likely to call on H.E. Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, President, Republic of Philippines.

Later in the evening on 5th May, 2012, the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee will leave for Dhaka, Bangladesh.

In Dhaka on 6th May, 2012, the first engagement of the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee is to participate in the Concluding Ceremony of 150th Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Later the Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee will hold delegation level talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Ms Sheikh Hasina. In the afternoon, Bangladesh Finance Minister Mr A.M.A. Muhith will call on the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Before departing for back home, the Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee will have a meeting with Leader of Opposition and Chairperson, Bangladesh Nationalist Party Begum Khaleda Zia.

The Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee will reach the national capital on the evening of 6th May, 2012

DSM/SS/GN

ADB chairmanship assumption strengthens India's role in shaping regional development cooperation and South Asia economic collaboration. The Finance Minister will visit Manila and Dhaka to represent India at the ADB Annual Board of Governors' Meeting, take over the Chair of the Board until the next meeting in Delhi, address business sessions on economic and development themes, launch the Delhi 2013 ADB Annual Meeting website, hold bilateral and multilateral meetings in Manila, attend a commemorative ceremony in Dhaka, conduct delegation-level talks with Bangladesh leadership, and return to the national capital thereafter.