It is a tremendous honor for ADB to receive the Regional Integration Leadership Award from the Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Joint Business Council. My sincere thanks to the Council for this recognition. This award belongs to our dedicated ADB teams and our partners across government and the private sector. Together, we have spent years working to strengthen cross-border connectivity, trade, and investment. For ADB, the true measure of regional integration is not just how closely economies are linked, but how widely the prosperity is shared. We remain committed to working with our partners to translate this cooperation into tangible opportunities for people and businesses.

A memorable gathering in Manila with my fellow MDB leaders for the historic, first-ever meeting of the Heads of MDBs meeting in the Philippines. Thank you to my colleagues for the productive discussions, conversations, and shared commitment to delivering results for our members. @AfDB_Group | @AIIB_Official | @COEbanknews | @EBRD | @EIB | @the_IDB | @isdb_group | @WorldBankGroup

As I welcomed fellow MDB leaders to Manila for the group’s first-ever meeting here, I was encouraged by how much we have achieved together during ADB’s 2026 chairship. Our partnership is delivering results. We have advanced private capital mobilization, including an updated MDB-wide methodology to measure it, and deepened collaboration on jobs, critical minerals, local currency financing, AI, and other shared priorities. In an increasingly complex global environment marked by uncertainty, economic pressures, and rapid technological change, our collective action matters more than ever. I am confident we will build on this momentum and deliver even more for the people we serve. Read our statement: adb.org/news/mdb-heads-stren… @AfDGGroup | @AIIBOfficial | @COEbanknews | @EBRD | @EIB | @the_IDB | @isdb_group | @WorldBankGroup

I am thrilled to welcome fellow MDB Heads to ADB Headquarters in Manila. The hosting of this historic meeting is an honor for both ADB, as Chair of the MDB Heads Group, and the Philippines. I look forward to productive discussions on how MDBs can work even more closely together to support our members and respond to today's development challenges. Stronger partnerships deliver better results.

A productive week in Bangkok at the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings reinforced that the world's challenges are too complex to tackle alone. I valued the opportunity to exchange views with leaders, senior government officials, heads of international financial institutions, and the private sector on how we can work together to strengthen resilience, unlock opportunity, and deliver tangible results to improve lives across the region. News release: adb.org/news/adb-president-m…

It was a pleasure to meet Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul again in Bangkok. I expressed my deep sympathy to communities affected by recent floods. To help build long-term resilience, ADB is accelerating our flagship Lower East Chao Phraya Irrigation System Improvement project and advancing our first health sector loan to modernize regional healthcare. Thailand is now ADB’s second-largest private sector market, where we have driven over $3 billion in investments since 2022 across clean energy, battery storage, and agribusiness to accelerate the country's green transition. Looking ahead to Thailand’s 2028 ASEAN chairship, Thailand can count on ADB. As the region’s main bank, we will mobilize up to $30 billion by 2030 for ASEAN priorities, focusing on connectivity and the digital economy, the blue economy, sustainability-linked finance, and food security.

I welcomed the opportunity to exchange views with Luxembourg Minister of Finance @RothGilles on deepening our partnership in sustainable finance. Our cooperation with Luxembourg is already delivering results, from Luxembourg’s nearly $5 million contribution to support fintech innovation in Southeast Asia to ADB’s $100 million Glacier Melt Awareness green bond launched on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. ADB serves as a bridge between European capitals and developing Asia and the Pacific. With Luxembourg’s leadership in sustainable finance, capital markets, and innovative investment vehicles, we can work together to mobilize private capital at scale.

I was deeply honored to address the Development Committee at the 2026 World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings. With the developing world facing unprecedented pressures, I firmly believe Multilateral Development Banks must act as a unified system to meet these overlapping global crises. As Chair of the MDB Heads Group, my focus is on turning cooperation into concrete action. We are mobilizing greater private capital, including through shared risk databases and local currency solutions. We are also identifying ways to work better as a system, with cofinancing and mutual reliance agreements. Multilateralism is more vital than ever to deliver stronger results.

Strong partnerships with shareholders are essential to helping Asia and the Pacific navigate an increasingly complex global environment. On the sidelines of the 2026 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok, I had conversations with Canadian Secretary of State @randeepssarai, UK @FCDOGovU Minister @kirstyjmcneill, Republic of Korea Deputy PM @leehimofe, and German @BMZ_Bund Federal Minister Reem Alabali Radovan to discuss how we can deepen cooperation on private sector development, energy security, innovation, and support for our most vulnerable members. I expressed my appreciation for their countries’ continued support for ADB and the Asian Development Fund (ADF), and our shared commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and stronger resilience across the region. Together, we can deliver greater impact for the people we serve.

I am pleased to announce the very first investment under the Action for Creating Energy Security for Long-term Resilience (ACCEL), ADB's new partnership with the Government of Japan. This investment wil help develop one of the world’s largest green ammonia plants in India. Ammonia is used every day to produce the fertilizer that helps feed the world. This project changes how we make it. By using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, we can produce it with far lower emissions and at a scale that can help reshape the industry. This landmark agreement shows how ADB and Japan are turning energy security into practical investments in new markets and jobs. Read news release: adb.org/news/adb-japan-back-…

Valuable discussions with Indonesia Minister of Finance (@KemenkeuRI) Suahasil Nazara and Pakistan Minister for Economic Affairs @AhadKhanCheema1 on the sidelines of the #WBMeetings. We exchanged views on the development priorities of Indonesia and Pakistan and explored opportunities to deepen ADB's support for both countries' growth and resilience objectives. ADB remains committed to supporting both countries through strong partnerships that advance resilience, sustainable growth, and opportunity.

A valuable discussion with @WorldBankGroup President Ajay Banga on the sidelines of the #WBGMeetings to discuss how ADB and the World Bank can deepen collaboration across areas including private capital mobilization, jobs, water, AI, and critical minerals. Our growing partnership, including through the Full Mutual Reliance Framework, is helping us deliver greater development impact together.

I had a productive discussion with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas on strengthening ADB’s partnership with Thailand. I conveyed my condolences following the recent floods and reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to accelerate support, with a stronger focus on both rapid response and disaster prevention. We also discussed ADB’s support for Thailand’s ASEAN Chairship in 2028, as the region’s “main bank” and preparations for the Finance in Common Summit (FICS) in Bangkok next year. Our sophisticated partnership continues to expand as we exchanged the signed loan agreement for ADB’s first health sector project in Thailand, in the presence of Minister of Public Health Pattana Promphat. Strong health systems are essential to building resilient communities. Read the news release: adb.org/news/adb-president-m…

On the sidelines of the #WBMeetings, I met with Standard Chartered Group Chair Maria Ramos to discuss the potential to use innovative financial structures and opportunities to strengthen our collaboration in areas including local currency financing and private capital mobilization. I also expressed my appreciation for her valuable contributions to the discussions of the ADB High-Level Private Sector Advisory Group. Unlocking greater private sector investment will be essential to meeting the region’s development ambitions. I thank @StanChart for its strong partnership with ADB.

It was a pleasure to meet Christophe Lecourtier and congratulate him on his appointment as CEO of Agence Française de Développement (AFD). 
As ADB and AFD approach 30 years of partnership in 2027, we reflected on our strong track record of supporting sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific. We discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration and expand cofinancing, building on our joint financing target of $6 billion for 2026-2028, which we are on track to surpass. I look forward to working closely with Christophe and the @AFD_France team as we prepare for the 2027 Finance in Common Summit here in Bangkok in March.

During my meeting with Nepal Minister for Finance Swarnim Wagle, I conveyed my condolences for the lives lost and communities affected by the recent floods. ADB responded swiftly, approving a $5 million emergency grant within 18 hours of the government’s request. I reaffirmed ADB's commitment to supporting Nepal's recovery and reconstruction efforts. I look forward to continuing our close partnership in support of Nepal's development, resilience, and long-term prosperity.

I had a productive discussion with State Bank of Viet Nam Governor Pham Duc An. Viet Nam’s strong economic progress underscores its ambition to achieve high-income status by 2045. We expect to scale up our lending program to $4.6 billion for 2026-2028 and deepen cooperation across many areas. Our $30 billion commitment to ASEAN as its main bank includes capital market deepening, a key area for collaboration with Viet Nam. I look forward to strengthening our longstanding partnership.

Meeting with the team at ADB's Thailand Resident Mission in Bangkok was a welcome opportunity to thank them for their dedication and service. I expressed my appreciation for their resilience and professionalism, particularly in the wake of recent flooding and during a demanding week of engagements around the IMF-World Bank Meetings. We also discussed private sector development, innovation, and the resident mission’s important role in advancing ADB’s priorities and supporting regional stability. With the Finance in Common Summit coming to Bangkok next March and Thailand’s ASEAN Chairship in 2028, the mission will remain at the center of many important engagements.