Japan will host the Asian Development Bank’s (Asian Development Bank) 60th Annual Meeting in Aichi-Nagoya from 2–5 May, marking both the institution’s 60th anniversary and six decades of partnership since its establishment.
ADB President Masato Kanda said it is fitting that the milestone event will be held in Japan, a founding member and one of the bank’s largest shareholders. He noted that the meeting will not only celebrate past achievements but also serve as a platform to shape the future of development in the region.
“The 60th Annual Meeting will be more than a celebration. It will be a moment to look to the future. I have high expectations for great success at this milestone event,” he said.
The Future Host Country Event, showcasing the culture, tradition and high technology of Aichi-Nagoya, was held during the ADB Annual Meeting in Samarkand. It was attended by Japanese officials including Finance Deputy Vice Minister for International Affairs Shuichi Hosoda, Nagoya City Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa, and Aichi Prefecture Vice Governor Shinichiro Furumoto. During the meeting, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama assumed the role of Chair of the Board of Governors for the upcoming year.
Under the theme “Forging Partnerships, Driving Transformation,” the Aichi-Nagoya meeting will provide a platform to reflect on Asia and the Pacific’s development progress since the ADB’s founding in 1966 and to discuss future regional priorities.
The Annual Meeting serves as the bank’s premier forum, bringing together governors, finance ministers, central bank leaders, private sector representatives, development partners, and civil society to discuss key challenges and policy directions across the region.
Japan’s role as host continues a long tradition, having previously hosted the meeting every decade since 1966, including the last one in Yokohama in 2017. It remains one of the ADB’s key shareholders and a major contributor to its trust funds, including the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, which supports poverty reduction and social development initiatives across the region.
The Asian Development Bank to mobilise USD 50 billion to advance regional connectivity initiatives
The Asian Development Bank (Asian Development Bank) plans to mobilise USD 50 billion by 2035 through new financing instruments, policy support, and strategic partnerships to accelerate cross-border power grid development across Asia and the Pacific, according to ADB President Masato Kanda.
The initiative aims to reduce energy costs, improve grid reliability, and expand clean energy trade across some of the world’s most complex and fragmented energy systems.
“The $50 billion Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative (PAGI) is about building the infrastructure required for a more connected, resilient, and prosperous Asia and the Pacific,” Kanda said. “Countries that stay connected attract investment and weather shocks better than those that turn inward. Connectivity is our answer to fragmentation.”
He made the remarks at the Governors’ Seminar on PAGI during the ADB’s 59th Annual Meeting, highlighting the bank’s shift from standalone infrastructure projects towards integrated regional systems that support long-term growth, resilience, and energy security.
Launched recently, the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative is a flagship platform designed to scale up cross-border electricity trade, integrate renewable energy, and strengthen the affordability and reliability of power supply across the region.
Through the initiative, the ADB aims to integrate around 20 gigawatts of renewable energy, develop 22,000 circuit-kilometres of transmission lines, improve energy access for 200 million people, and create approximately 840,000 jobs by 2035.
The bank will also use its convening role to bring together governments, regulators, utilities, the private sector, and development partners to align policies, coordinate investments, and address regulatory barriers that often slow regional infrastructure development.
ADB has previously supported major cross-border energy projects, including the Bangladesh–India grid interconnection and the Monsoon Wind Power Project in Lao PDR, using blended finance to mobilise private capital.
To further support regional grid expansion in Southeast Asia, the ADB has launched a Regional Connectivity Fund backed by Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. The fund is designed to reduce early-stage project risks, finance project preparation, and attract larger flows of public and private investment.
Japan to host the 60th Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting 2027
