The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has established a High-Level Private Sector Advisory Group during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos. This initiative aims to refine ADB’s strategy in leveraging private investment across Asia and the Pacific amidst significant global uncertainties.
ADB President Masato Kanda stated, “Guided by this Advisory Group, ADB is evolving from financier to comprehensive partner, creating the conditions for the private sector to invest with confidence and deliver lasting impact in Asia and the Pacific.” He emphasized that while capital, technology, and expertise are available globally in unprecedented volumes, they are not flowing swiftly or sufficiently into emerging markets. He attributed this issue not to a lack of ambition but to challenges in alignment, including how risks are priced, how policy signals are interpreted, and the speed at which strong ideas become investable projects.
The Advisory Group comprises global business leaders who will provide insights to enhance ADB’s private sector engagement. Members of the group include BNP Paribas Chairman Jean Lemierre, Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson, Standard Chartered PLC Group Chair Maria Ramos, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation President and CEO Akihiro Fukutome, Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Temasek Holdings Executive Director and CEO Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, and Zurich Insurance Group CEO Mario Greco.
During its inaugural meeting, the Group focused on identifying the bottlenecks hindering progress, particularly in risk allocation and attracting liquidity to the region. ADB noted that private capital is more likely to engage when frameworks are credible, governance is robust, and projects are designed for scale from the beginning.
The Advisory Group will propose specific actions to enhance the mobilization of institutional capital through innovative financial instruments and platforms. Additionally, it will work on accelerating the development of digital and AI-enabled infrastructure.
ADB has announced its goal to increase annual private sector financing four-fold by 2030, with 40% of its public sector operations directed towards supporting private sector development.
(Colombo/Jan23/2026)
