ADB Asian Development Bank : VP Reaffirms Commitment to Support Bangladesh on Implementing SDGs

DHAKA, BANGLADESH (17 January 2018)- Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Wencai Zhang, attending the Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF) in Dhaka today, reaffirmed ADB's commitment to supporting Bangladesh in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and assisting the country in fulfilling its growth aspirations.

Complimenting Bangladesh on achieving the Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty incidence between 1990 and 2015, as well as those related to primary education, child mortality, maternal health, and safe drinking water and basic sanitation, Mr. Zhang said, 'ADB stands ready to support Bangladesh in tackling challenges to meeting the SDGs, improving infrastructure, and boosting social development. Improving education quality, enhancing access to health, and creating more employment opportunities, particularly for women, are some of the challenges to be met to achieve the SDG targets.'

Mr. Zhang, in his remarks at the opening session of the BDF, noted that it is necessary to further boost investment to fulfill the country's growth aspirations and move the economy to a higher growth trajectory. He also exchanged views with the Minister of Finance, Abul Maal A. Muhith, highlighting ADB's robust and expanding partnership with Bangladesh.

The ADB Vice-President also noted that ADB's country operations business plan for Bangladesh for the next three years reflects the government's key development priorities for inclusive growth, with projects in infrastructure and social development.

ADB operations will address infrastructure development (transport, energy, and urban services sectors), rural infrastructure, skills development, climate and disaster resilience, and regional cooperation and integration. ADB will expand lending to $8 billion during 2016-2020 from $5 billion in 2011-2015. ADB will also continue to support Bangladesh's regional cooperation and integration efforts, particularly in electricity sharing with neighbors, and implementation of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members-48 from the region.