When Takehiko Nakao delivers his opening address in Frankfurt, Germany, today, it will be his fourth annual meeting as president of the Asian Development Bank — despite having barely three years in the role.
The first time around, Nakao presided over 2013’s gathering after just a day on the job, the bank chief recalled, in an exclusive interview with Devex. “I came to Manila one day before the first annual meeting in Delhi,” he said.
This type of urgency — and many others — have characterized his time at the bank, where he has driven a pressing need for reform. From day one, he said, “I focused on how ADB can operate closer to the ground and how we can strengthen the operations by looking at the procedures.”
Now as he seeks re-election to his post in November, the ADB finds itself a changed institution in a fast-evolving regional environment. New donors and new infrastructure needs have popped up. Even greater reforms may well be needed if the ADB is to serve the region’s development. Nakao told Devex he wouldn’t be afraid to usher in more change.
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