Asian Development Bank Annual Meetings

4 May 2006

Read statements and articles from civil society, the press, and the ADB.

The 39th Asian Development Bank Annual Governors meeting were held in Hyderabad, India from May 3-6 2006.

Following are press releases and news articles related to the meetings.

People's Forum Against the ADB

A parallel forum of civil society organizations, organized under the banner Peoples’ Forum against the ADB (PFAADB), is planning an alternative summit in Hyderabad at the same time. Denouncing the ADB as “extremely secretive, non-transparent and unaccountable”, the PFAADB has planned meetings on displacement, reclaiming democracy, power and water privatization, militarization, and the environmental, social and livelihood impacts of ADB-funded projects. Read more on the PFAADB website.

Civil Society Statements, Press Releases and Activities

• The Hyderabad Pledge (BIC website)
• Various documents about the ADB prepared by civil society Peoples Forum Against the ADB
• ADB Charged with Accelerating Poverty. Press Release from the People's Forum Against the ADB, May 3, 2006.
• Better Off Without the ADB, Press Release from the People's Forum Against the ADB, May 2, 2006.
• Street Corner Meetings Against ADB Begin in Hyderabad. Press Release from Peoples Forum Against the ADB, April 29, 2006.

Multimedia from the Event

• Panel Discussion on ADB & Accountability BIC website (Windows Media Audio file 19.61 MB)
  
  The panel discussed ADB’s anticorruption and accountability efforts and compared them to those of other international financial institutions. It will also provide civil society perspectives on what more can be done to strengthen ADB’s performance in these areas. The panelists include: Bruce Rich, International Program Director of Environmental Defense (USA); Peter Pedersen, Auditor General of ADB; and Marcus Heinz, Alternate Governor of ADB from Austria. Mishka Zaman, Asia Program Manager of Bank Information Center moderated the discussion.
  
  Recorded from 12:30 to 14:00 of May 3, 2006 at HICC, Hyderabad City, India by Jelson Garcia
  
  
• Panel Discussion on ADB’s Water Policy: Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full? BIC website (Windows Media Audio file 31.81MB)

Part I: Public Release of the Report of the Water Policy Implementation Review. Members of the Independent Panel that reviewed implementation of ADB's Water Policy
launched their report at ADB's Annual Meeting. Questions and comments from the audience followed after the presentation.

Part II: Will ADB’s Water Policy Provide Security? Broader discussion on whether the Water Policy's implementation could bring water security to the Asia-Pacific region highlighted this session. Members of the Independent Review Committee, an ADB official, members from the NGO Forum on ADB network, and WaterAid India picked up on the Panel Review’s report. Communities affected by ADB’s water sector projects also presented their issues.

The Implementation Review Panel members include: Mr. Ravi Narayanan, former Chief Executive of WaterAid UK; Mr. Pradeep Singh, President and CEO of IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation; and Ms. Erna Witoelar, UN Special Ambassador for MDGs in Asia and the Pacific. Mr. Woochong Um, Director for Energy, Transport and Water Division of ADB’s RSDD represented the Bank. Bart Edes, NGO Coordinator of ADB moderated the discussion.

Recorded from 10:00 to 12:00 of May 5, 2006 at HICC, Hyderabad City, India by Jelson Garcia.

Press

• Friction Over ADB's Role: East Asian Members Use Lender to Foster Financial Integration, by Rick Carew, May 8, 2006 (Wall Street Journal)
• ADB meeting highlights challenges facing Asia, The Korea Herald, May 8, 2006 (www.koreaherald.co.kr)
• ADB says Asia set for high growth but oil prices could be threat, afxpress, May 7, 2006 (www.afxpress.com)
• E. Asian crisis unlikely to recur: ADB chief, Press Trust of India, May 7, 2006
• ADB plans fund to promote clean energy, Financial Daily, May 7, 2006 (www.thehundibusinessline.com)
• Countries push ADB to help private sector, by Ashok Sharma, May 6, 2006(www.businessweek.com)
• ADB meeting urges financial integration, Xinhua, May 6, 2006 (www.chinaview.com)
• ADB chief turns down FMs demand to reduce loan rates, Zee News, May 6, 2006 (www.zeenews.com)
• ADB meeting calls cooperation, concrete measures to meet poverty reduction goals, People's Daily Online, May 6, 2006 (People's Daily Online)
• US asks Asia to aid process of adjustment to global imbalances, Press Trust of India, May 6, 2006 (www.hundustantimes.com)
• Asian Finance Ministers Seek Common Currency, by Anand Giridharadas, May 5, 2006 (New York Times)
• Peoples Forum, unions indict ABD's development model Navhind Times, May 4, 2006 (Navhind Times website)
• Protests erupt as ADB begins annual meeting in Hyderabad, Gulf Times, May 4, 2006 (www.gulf-times.com)
• Larger than life protest greets ADB meet India Times, May 4, 2006 (India Times website)
• Finding ADB: Does the bank need to find a new role, too? The Financial Express, May 3, 2006 (Financial Express website)
• NGOs Criticize Asian Development Bank, by Ashok Sharma, Associated Press, May 2, 2006 (www.chron.com)

ADB documents

• Participation of NGOs and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) (ADB website)