ADB Returns to Davos to Push ASEAN Cooperation and Private Capital

Speaking amid growing geopolitical and economic fragmentation, Mr. Kanda stressed that regional integration remains a strategic choice—not an inevitability.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda has marked ADB’s return to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos after a six-year absence, using the global platform to call for deeper ASEAN cooperation and stronger mechanisms to unlock private sector investment across Asia and the Pacific.

Speaking amid growing geopolitical and economic fragmentation, Mr. Kanda stressed that regional integration remains a strategic choice—not an inevitability.

“Global fragmentation is not inevitable; it is a policy choice,” he said. “Across Asia and the Pacific, countries are choosing deeper regional cooperation because shared prosperity is the foundation of lasting stability. Public funds alone are not enough—we must bridge the gap between policy frameworks and private capital.”

New push to mobilise private investment

A central outcome of ADB’s Davos engagement was the launch of the High-Level Private Sector Advisory Group, designed to guide ADB’s strategy for mobilising institutional capital for sustainable growth, resilience and digital transformation.

Unlike traditional advisory bodies focused on targets, the group will concentrate on identifying market bottlenecks and recommending practical actions to make projects investable at scale.

ASEAN growth, energy and digital priorities

Mr. Kanda used several high-profile sessions to highlight ASEAN’s growth agenda. At the public panel “Is ASEAN Moving Fast Enough?”, he argued that digital infrastructure and energy security must be addressed together to sustain momentum.

He also delivered opening remarks at the private session “New Pathways for ASEAN Growth and Productivity” and led a dedicated discussion on the ASEAN Power Grid, reaffirming ADB’s readiness to commit up to $10 billion over the next decade to support regional energy connectivity.

High-level diplomacy and private sector engagement

During the week, Mr. Kanda met with heads of government and senior officials, including:

• Sri Lanka Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya

• Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney

• Mongolia Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav

• Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas

• Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb

Private sector discussions focused on technology, mobility and investment strategy. In talks with Grab CEO Anthony Tan, Mr. Kanda explored digital platforms as essential economic infrastructure, including collaboration on greener urban mobility and food supply chains. He also met Boston Consulting Group Global Chair Rich Lesser to exchange views on global economic and geopolitical trends shaping investment decisions.

Global institutions and research links

Mr. Kanda also engaged with leaders of major international institutions, including the UN Development Programme, IMF, OECD, Inter-American Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and the International Finance Corporation, underscoring the importance of coordination in fragile and emerging markets.

Recognising the role of research and innovation, he met senior academic leaders from institutions including Tufts University, Keio University, the University of Tokyo, UC Berkeley, and the University of Cape Town.

ADB said the Davos engagement reflects its renewed push to position regional cooperation and private capital mobilisation at the centre of Asia-Pacific development strategies amid rising global uncertainty.