Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Masato Kanda will serve a second term in the position – following unanimous support from members of the board of governors voting in a recent election.
“I am deeply honoured by the trust our members have placed in me at this critical moment in our region’s history,” Ms Kanda said in a statement from the ADB.
“New shocks are striking Asia and the Pacific, even before economies have recovered from the last, and the international order is under its greatest strain in generations.”
Mr Kanda said the ADB must be the region’s anchor of stability.
However, he added stability could not mean standing still.
“We must mobilise with speed and at the scale our members need, to protect people today while helping build a brighter future for the next generation.”
Mr Kanda was first elected as ADB 11th president on November 27 in 2024 and assumed the position on February 24 last year, serving the remaining term of his predecessor, Masatsugu Asakawa.
According to the ADB, ADB has significantly expanded its support to members during a period of overlapping crises since taking up office.
The ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific.
In 2025, it provided a record $44 billion in support, including more than $29b from its own resources and nearly $15b in cofinancing.
Mr Kanda’s new term runs for five years beginning November 24 later this year.
