Azerbaijan attends ADB Board of Governors meeting in Samarkand

The 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has begun in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with Azerbaijan also among the participating member states.

This year’s theme is “Crossroads of Progress: Advancing the Region's Connected Future.” The main sessions are scheduled to take place from May 3 to 6, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Azerbaijan is represented at the event by a delegation led by Finance Minister Sahil Babayev, who is also a member of the ADB Board of Governors.

More than 3,000 participants are attending this year’s meeting, including senior government officials, central bank governors from member countries, representatives of international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society, and media.

The forum agenda is focused on three strategic pillars: “Connectivity for Development,” “Data for Development,” and “Mobilization for Development.”

Participants are discussing green transition, infrastructure digitalization, and expanded cooperation in food security across the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the official program, key events include seminars on sustainable capital markets, aimed at strengthening regional financial ties between CAREC and ASEAN countries. A civil society forum will also address new Environmental and Social Framework standards of the ADB, along with a session on public–private partnerships and attracting private investment into infrastructure projects.

The previous, 58th annual meeting was held in May 2025 in Milan, Italy.

Annual ADB Board of Governors meetings serve as the bank’s main platform for setting strategic directions in administrative, financial, and operational activities, while also enabling member countries to engage with ADB experts, NGOs, academia, and the private sector on global economic challenges.

By Jeyhun Aghazada