ADB Connectivity Strategy Unveiled at Samarkand Meeting

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — At the closing session of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Samarkand, the bank’s leadership unveiled an ambitious strategy to strengthen regional connectivity through integrated energy, digital, and financial systems. Five of the bank’s six vice presidents took part in the discussion focused on the future development of the Asia-Pacific region.

The session was moderated by Bruno Carrasco, ADB Secretary, who opened the discussion by recalling Samarkand’s historical role as a trading hub on the Silk Road in the 14th and 15th centuries. The annual meeting was held under the theme “Crossroads of Progress: Advancing a Connected Future for the Region.”

A central element of the discussion was the Pan-Asia Power Grid initiative presented by Yin Min, ADB Vice President for South, Central and West Asia. He noted that over recent decades the bank has supported nine subregional programs covering 42 countries across Asia and the Pacific, seven of which directly facilitate cross-border electricity trade.

The new initiative received unanimous support from the bank’s shareholders following its announcement by President Kanda. Preliminary estimates suggest that by 2030 it could improve electricity access for more than 200 million people, reduce emissions from the energy sector by 15%, and create around 840,000 jobs. The economic benefits from improved efficiency are projected at about US$100 billion in the coming years, rising to US$250 billion by 2030.

Yin Min said the initiative would serve as a catalyst for smaller economies in the region, enabling countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, Türkiye, and Tajikistan to convert hydropower potential into growth, jobs, and revenues, while providing connected economies with access to cleaner electricity for industrial competitiveness.

By 2030, the ADB plans to mobilize US$50 billion in investments, develop 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, and build 22,000 kilometers of transmission lines. The bank will also launch US$10 million in technical assistance to support policy dialogue and harmonization of standards.

Roberto Casali, Vice President for Finance and Risk Management, highlighted the importance of regional corridors and system-based approaches. He said connectivity now extends beyond physical infrastructure to the interaction between markets, systems, and institutions, emphasizing that countries should treat shared resources as interconnected systems rather than isolated national assets.

He outlined three lessons from regional cooperation. First, reducing fragmentation and building resilience requires predictable environments that can manage risks and attract investors. Second, private capital is driven not by strategic announcements alone but by enabling conditions that allow investment in development goals. Third, public finance must lead in areas where markets are still undeveloped.

Casali highlighted the “From Glaciers to Farms” initiative as an example of ADB’s approach, bringing together nine countries and four river basins on a single platform to align rules and mobilize private capital.

Bhargav Desh Gupta, Vice President for Market Solutions, said investors require not only returns but also policy stability and confidence. He stressed the need for institutions, dispute resolution mechanisms, and harmonized standards for energy systems, markets, payments, and trade. He also called for the development of a common market for small and medium-sized enterprises and a regional capital market to reduce borrowing costs and support innovation.

Yu HK, Vice President for Administration and Corporate Management, cited ADB’s work in Pacific island states, where infrastructure needs are high but market scale is limited. The bank has been consolidating project pipelines with partners including the World Bank and has created a platform listing upcoming projects. A business fair scheduled in Fiji attracted more than 400 companies, reflecting growing regional engagement.

The second part of the discussion focused on digital transformation. Carrasco noted the launch of the Asia-Pacific Digital Backbone initiative, with around US$20 billion in planned investment. The initiative aims to connect energy systems, transport corridors, financial markets, and public services through digital infrastructure.

Fatima Yasmin, Vice President for Sectors and Themes, outlined four pillars of the initiative. The first involves investments in cross-border fiber-optic corridors, submarine cables, last-mile broadband access, regional data centers, cloud infrastructure, and digital public infrastructure including identity systems, payments, and data interoperability. The second focuses on policy and regulatory harmonization, including cybersecurity, data protection, and digital trade rules. The third emphasizes inclusivity for remote communities, women, youth, and small businesses. The fourth addresses cyber risk, privacy, and responsible artificial intelligence governance.

Yu HK cited examples of advanced technology applications in ADB projects, including an Uzbekistan wind energy project using artificial intelligence and cameras to monitor bird migration around turbines, a bamboo tokenization system generating carbon credits for small farmers, and a climate risk analytics tool providing 3D disaster risk assessments using open data.

The final discussion focused on capital mobilization. Desh Gupta said ADB has significantly increased private investment mobilization, reaching about US$9.5 billion in 2025, up 40% from 2024, which itself grew 60% from 2023. Of this total, US$4.7 billion represented direct private capital mobilization.

Casali noted that the region’s infrastructure financing gap is estimated at US$1.5–1.7 trillion, requiring strong private sector participation. He also highlighted the launch in Samarkand of a catastrophe risk bond for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the first of its kind in Central Asia, shifting disaster risk to global investors.

He emphasized the importance of guarantees, blended finance, and loan syndication, as well as new data platforms and securitization models. Casali also pointed to ongoing efforts to expand capital markets and strengthen risk-sharing frameworks among development banks.

Speakers agreed that long-term planning is essential for infrastructure development, alongside smaller pilot projects that demonstrate early results and build public support. Casali concluded that connectivity delivers real impact only when systems, policies, and investments are aligned, and noted that the next ADB Annual Meeting will be held in Nagoya, Japan.