ADB's annual meeting to focus on connectivity

MANILA, Philippines: About 3,000 people including Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors, business leaders, investors, journalists, and civil society representatives from across the world are set to gather in Astana, Kazakhstan from May 2-5 for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s 47th Annual Meeting of its Board of Governors.

The theme of the 2014 Annual Meeting is 'The Silk Road - Connecting Asia with the Changing World'. Discussions on the link between improved regional connectivity and higher growth in Central Asia and beyond will feature prominently at the gathering.

For the first time, the meeting will feature a TV debate with high-profile speakers. The debate will be hosted by international broadcaster CNBC on the topic of Asia's economic outlook.

The midterm review of ADB's Strategy 2020 will be a key topic of discussion. The Governor's Seminar will focus on the lessons learned from recent financial crises and reducing economic and financial vulnerability in the region. Leveraging fiscal policy to promote more inclusive growth, based on the theme chapter of the recent Asian Development Outlook 2014, will also be highlighted.

Ideas for a post-2015 development agenda that extends beyond the Millennium Development Goals will also be discussed in Astana.

Highlights of a new ADB study on Asia's knowledge economies will be presented, with a particular focus on the region's investments in innovation, internet connectivity, education, and vocational training.

A session on public-private partnerships (PPPs) will explore preferred models of PPPs, how to attract private and institutional investors, identify constraints that prevent successful PPPs, and discuss how organizations such as ADB can help bridge the 'bankability gap'.