ADB to step up private sector operations

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will sharpen the focus of its private sector operations on complex, innovative, smaller, and sometimes riskier projects in challenging markets and sectors, and enhance efforts to address climate change and support women under an operational plan that will guide ADB's non-sovereign assistance over the next five years.

The Operational Plan for ADB's Private Sector Operations, approved on Tuesday, notes that a healthy private sector is key to meeting persistent development challenges, said an ADB's press release.

In Asia and the Pacific, these include financing gaps that thwart the construction of modern infrastructure, slow the creation and growth of businesses, and suppress household savings by excluding poor communities and particularly women from the banking system.

"ADB's private sector operations will lead by example to bridge these gaps and meet the challenges of our rapidly changing region," said the Director General of ADB's Private Sector Operations Department Mr. Mike Barrow.

"We will champion new products, financing structures, and companies, and expand our work in emerging sectors such as agribusiness, education, and health, while sharpening our already substantial focus on addressing climate change. We will redouble our efforts in countries facing unique development challenges like those in fragile and conflict-affected situations and small island developing states, and will focus heavily on investments that benefit women."

A larger share of private sector projects will be higher risk, innovative, and strongly developmental. Smaller projects with high development impact will be encouraged. To manage risks and ensure financial sustainability, lending and investment decisions will be based on a thorough understanding of risks and rewards.