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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider ADB targets $6-billion push to deepen ASEAN capital markets

ADB targets $6-billion push to deepen ASEAN capital markets

Published Apr 11, 2026 11:36 am

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to mobilize up to $6 billion by 2030, alongside institutional support for capital market regulators in Southeast Asia, to deepen regional capital markets and strengthen long-term financial resilience against external shocks.

The initiative aims to accelerate the development of local currency bond markets, broaden institutional investor participation, and enhance the capacity of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states to finance long-term development needs amid global volatility, the Manila-based multilateral lender said in a statement on Friday, April 10.

“Deep capital markets provide much needed resilience to external shocks, and while ASEAN’s capital markets have grown significantly, they have not reached the scale needed to support the region’s long-term development ambitions,” ADB president Masato Kanda said during the 13th ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting.

“The initiative we are announcing today will help deepen domestic and regional markets, strengthen local currency bond markets, and drive greater institutional investor participation. This is now more important than ever given today’s volatile global environment,” Kanda added.

The ADB noted that capital markets are essential for mobilizing private finance needed for infrastructure development across energy, transport, healthcare, education, and other sectors. Under the initiative, the lender will provide policy-based financing to support regulatory strengthening, improve market infrastructure, and help create conditions for issuing sustainable finance instruments.

It will also invest in securities issued by governments and private companies across ASEAN, while supporting the structuring and issuance of bonds that finance renewable energy (RE), energy efficiency, sustainable transport, and affordable housing.

The program is expected to help unlock up to $30 billion in additional capital market investments in the region by 2030 by stimulating greater bond issuance, the ADB said.

The initiative will be implemented in coordination with the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF), which brings together regulators from all 11 ASEAN jurisdictions. The ADB will also host an ACMF office at its headquarters in Manila.

Last month, the ADB said it was stepping up its role as ASEAN’s main development partner. It recently launched a trust fund to support feasibility studies (FS) and project preparation for the ASEAN Power Grid and is also advancing regional initiatives on artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, the blue economy, and river basin resilience.

Amid the war in the Middle East, Kanda reiterated that the ADB remains ready to provide tailored financial support to developing member countries to help mitigate economic impacts. This includes fast-disbursing budget support, trade and supply chain support, and targeted assistance for vulnerable communities.

Related Tags

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Masato Kanda Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
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