Manila – Online registration is now open for the 51st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), to be held on 3-6 May 2018 at ADB headquarters in Manila, the Philippines.

This year’s meeting will look at global and regional issues affecting development in Asia and the Pacific, while exploring how ADB and its development partners can work together toward an inclusive, resilient, and prosperous region by 2030. See schedule.

A highlight among the 4 days of panels and other events is the Governors’ Seminar on 4 May, which will discuss how new technologies and globalization will affect the prospects for job creation in developing Asia and their policy implications.

Strategy 2030, ADB’s long-term strategic framework, is another key topic of the meeting, as the ADB Governors will discuss the draft strategy at the Governors’ Plenary. Strategy 2030 is expected to be finalized before the end of this year.

A seminar will be held to discuss how the growing gender gaps in Asia and the Pacific can be addressed through supporting women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. Another seminar will focus on tapping technology to maximize longevity dividends in the region. There will also be discussions on the private sector’s participation in meeting Asia’s huge infrastructure needs, estimated at $1.7 trillion per year until 2030.

Various other seminars will be held featuring current topics of interest to ADB stakeholders, such as new technologies in finance, investing in community-led solutions for climate and disaster resilience, promoting inclusive growth through inter-sub-regional cooperation, and the future of energy systems, among others.

In addition to official ADB sessions and seminars, the Philippines as the host country will organize a range of events where representatives of the public and private sectors and civil society will exchange ideas about the country’s economic direction and its business, trade, and investment prospects.

Over 3,000 participants are expected to attend the meeting, including finance ministers, central bank governors and other senior government officials, private sector, representatives of civil society organizations and international organizations, youth, academia, and members of the media.

Invited participants, including the media, should register online. Other persons interested to attend the meeting need to be accredited. See accreditation page.

Accredited media will have access to all public sessions, including seminars and key business sessions. See media invitation.

Download the prospect HERE.