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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Economy devider ADB pledges stronger support for ASEAN integration

ADB pledges stronger support for ASEAN integration

Published Mar 14, 2026 04:40 pm

The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to increase its support for Southeast Asia as the region begins implementing its long-term development blueprint, ASEAN Vision 2045.

In a statement on Friday, March 13, the ADB said its president, Masato Kanda, met with economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat, where the multilateral lender committed to strengthening its financing and advisory support for the regional bloc.

“In an uncertain world, Southeast Asia is choosing economic integration and cooperation. The ADB is stepping up as the region’s premier financing and advisory partner to help build an integrated Southeast Asia that is resilient enough to withstand the challenges ahead,” Kanda said in his address to the meeting. 

The ADB said its support will focus on three main areas: dedicated financing for sovereign and private-sector projects aligned with ASEAN priorities, upstream project development to ensure regional initiatives are investment-ready, and stronger regional coordination to provide advisory support to ASEAN sectoral bodies.

The bank also noted that ASEAN’s long-term goals face immediate global headwinds, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and potential spillover effects across Asia such as higher energy costs and rising inflation.

Kanda told economic ministers that the ADB is prepared to help ASEAN member states respond to these challenges if needed.

The ADB is also advancing several long-term initiatives to support regional integration. Among these is the ASEAN Power Grid, for which the bank said it is ready to commit up to $10 billion over the next decade.

The lender is also developing initiatives aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, deepening capital markets, advancing the blue economy, and improving river and flood resilience across Southeast Asia.

Through these efforts, the ADB said it aims to help translate ASEAN’s regional ambitions into large-scale investment and implementation.

Economic ministers from ASEAN member states gathered in Manila this week to discuss the regional and global economic outlook as well as the bloc’s economic priorities.

The ADB also supported the ASEAN Business Environment Forum (ABEF) and launched a new report titled “Advancing the Green Economy Transition in ASEAN,” bringing together government and private-sector leaders and highlighting the bank’s broader role in supporting ASEAN’s economic transformation.

Founded in 1966, ADB is a multilateral development bank (MDB) owned by 69 members, including 50 from the Asia-Pacific, and focuses on promoting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across the region.

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