The Origin

◦ The Asian Development Bank was conceived in the early 1960s as a financial institution
that would be Asian in character and foster economic growth and cooperation in one of
the poorest regions in the world.
◦ A resolution passed at the first Ministerial Conference on Asian Economic Cooperation
held by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East in 1963 set
that vision on the way to becoming reality.
◦ The Philippines capital, Manila City, was chosen to host the new institution, which opened
on 19 December 1966, with 31 members that came together to serve a predominantly
agricultural region. Takeshi Watanabe was ADB's first President.
◦ During the 1960s, ADB focused much of its assistance on food production and rural
development.
1970s
◦ When the world suffered its first oil price shock, ADB increased its support for energy
projects, especially those promoting the development of domestic energy sources in
member countries.
◦ Co-financing operations, in which ADB manages the funds of other organizations, began
to provide additional resources for ADB projects and programs. ADB’s first bond issue in
Asia—worth $16.7 million and issued in Japan—took place in 1970.
◦ A major landmark was establishment in 1974 of the Asian Development Fund to provide
low-interest loans to ADB's poorest members.
◦ By the end of the decade, some Asian economies had improved considerably and no
longer needed ADB's assistance.
1980s
◦ In the wake of the second oil crisis, ADB continued its support to infrastructure
development, particularly energy projects. ADB also increased its support to social
infrastructure, including projects involving microfinance, the environment, education,
urban planning, health issues, and helping women and girls.
◦ In 1982, ADB opened its first field office—in Bangladesh—to bring operations closer to
the people in need. Later in the decade, ADB began working with nongovernment
organizations to help disadvantaged groups.
1990s
◦ In 1995, ADB became the first multilateral organization to have a Board-approved
governance policy to ensure that development assistance fully benefits the poor. Policies
on involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples were also put in place.
◦ ADB's membership continued to expand with the addition of several Central Asian
countries following the end of the Cold War.
◦ In mid-1997, a severe financial crisis hit the region, setting back Asia's economic gains.
ADB responded with projects and programs to strengthen financial sectors and create
social safety nets for the poor. ADB approved its largest single loan—a $4 billion
 emergency loan to the Republic of Korea—and established the Asian Currency Crisis
Support Facility to accelerate assistance.
◦ In mid-1997, a severe financial crisis hit the region, setting back Asia's economic gains.
ADB responded with projects and programs to strengthen financial sectors and create
social safety nets for the poor. ADB approved its largest single loan—a $4 billion
emergency loan to the Republic of Korea—and established the Asian Currency Crisis
Support Facility to accelerate assistance.
2000s
◦ With the new century, ADB focused on helping its member countries achieve the
Millennium Development Goals.
◦ In 2003, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic hit the region, making it
clear that fighting infectious diseases requires regional cooperation. ADB began providing
support at national and regional levels to help countries more effectively respond to avian
influenza and the growing threat of HIV/AIDS.
◦ ADB also had to respond to unprecedented natural disasters, committing more than $850
million for recovery in areas of India, Indonesia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka hit by the
December 2004 Asian tsunami. In addition, a $1 billion line of assistance to help victims
of the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan was set up.
◦ In 2009, ADB's Board of Governors agreed to triple ADB's capital base from $55 billion to
$165 billion, giving it more resources to respond to the global economic crisis.
2010s
◦ Asia moved beyond the economic crisis to emerge as a new engine of global growth in
2010 when the region’s gross domestic product increased by 9%. This was more than
double the global growth rate during the same period and well above the 5.9% rate
recorded in the region in 2009.
◦ While the speed and strength of its economic recovery surprised many, the region still
faced daunting challenges and remained home to two thirds of the world’s poor and a
growing problem of inequality. This increasing gap between the rich and poor focused
ADB on the need to promote inclusive growth in the region.
◦ In response to reforms initiated by the Government of Myanmar, ADB resumed
operations in the country. In April 2014, ADB established offices in Nay Pyi Taw and
Yangon.
◦ In May 2014, plans were announced to combine the lending operations of ADB’s two main
funds, the Asian Development Fund and its ordinary capital resources. The merger will
boost ADB’s total annual lending and grant approvals to as high as $20 billion—50% more
than the current level when it takes effect in January 2017.
◦ As the era of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) draws to a close, the results
have been mixed. While ADB’s work has contributed to Asia and the Pacific slashing
extreme poverty by more than half, the region is still home to 1.2 billion people who live
on $3.10 a day or less and almost three-quarters of the world’s underweight children.
About 600 million people have no access to electricity and 1.7 billion still lack improved
sanitation. A huge amount of work still must be done with the new Sustainable
Development Goals as important guideposts.