The 48th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will discuss regional developments in Asia and the Pacific on 2-5 May 2015 at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan. Under the theme “Fostering Partnership for Development,” the Meeting will focus on the importance of leveraging resources and strengthening coordination between ADB, its members, and other multilateral and bilateral partners. Around 3,000 government officials, business leaders, investors, journalists, and representatives from civil society are expected to attend.

Scheduled events in Baku will explore the Meeting's general theme, including seminars on economic, financial, and development issues. The need to enhance regional cooperation and integration (RCI) within Central Asia and the South Caucasus will be emphasized in a morning panel discussion on 5 May 2015. ADB's RCI strategy, adopted in July 2006, supports poverty reduction through regional initiatives that enhance physical connectivity, increase trade and investment, financial stability, and improve living conditions.

Other events include a learning seminar on "Bridging the Road Safety Gap through Government, Civil Society, and Private Sector Partnerships" with Hayat National, a non-governmental organization; a seminar on "Unearthing the Future Drivers for Asia's Growth Pillars - People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia", sponsored by Standard and Poor's Ratings Services; and seminar on "Energy Policy Reassessment in Asia" facilitated by PricewaterhouseCoopers. View the complete program.

SASEC Nodal Officials representing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka will also meet on 4 May 2015 at the sidelines of the Annual Meeting to discuss key achievements of the SASEC Program over the past 12 months and provide overall strategic guidance on future activities.

Related Links: 

• ADB Annual Meeting in Baku to Focus on Partnership for Development
• ADB Brochure: Baku 2015
• SASEC Nodal Officials' Meeting