The Asian Development Bank was conceived in the early 1960s as a financial institution that would be Asian in character and foster economic growth and cooperation in one of the poorest regions in the world.

• It is headquartered at Manila, Philippines.
• ADB now has 67 members of which 48 from within Asia and Pacific while remaining 19 from outside. 
• The bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and non-regional developed countries. 
• ADB assists its members, and partners, by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development. 
• ADB operations are designed to support the three complementary agendas of inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.
• The ADB was modeled closely on the World Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions.

Funding

• ADB raises funds through bond issues on the world’s capital markets.
• ADB also rely on its members’ contributions, retained earnings from its lending operations, and the repayment of loans.
• As of 31 December 2016, Japan holds the largest proportions of shares at 15.67%. 
• The United States holds 15.56%, China holds 6.47%, India holds 6.36%, and Australia holds 5.81%. 

Board of Governors

• It is the highest policy-making body of the bank. 
• It is composed of one representative from each member state. 
• The Board of Governors also elect the bank’s President who is the chairperson of the Board of Directors and manages ADB

India and ADB

• India is a founding member and the fourth largest shareholder.
• India is planning to set up a ADB‘s regional hub at New Delhi.
• In India, ADB finances projects such as East coast economic corridor, solar rooftop investment program,Mechi river bridge project in Indo-Nepal border, TAPI gas pipeline, South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program, supporting fiscal reforms in West Bengal State.

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