Seville, July 1 (AseanAll) — Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda engaged European leaders and key partners during a mission to France and Spain, culminating in the announcement of a new ADB office in Paris. The announcement, made during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain,marks a major milestone in ADB’s efforts to expand its presence and deepen collaboration across Europe.
“France is not only a longstanding partner, but a key ally in shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for Asia and the Pacific,” said Mr. Kanda. “Establishing a permanent presence in Paris marks an important step in strengthening our ties. It will deepen our cooperation, open new opportunities, and support our shared efforts to address the complex challenges facing Asia and the Pacific.”
Mr. Kanda began his mission in Paris, where he met with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Chief Executive Officer Rémy Rioux to sign an amendment to the ADB–AFD Partnership Framework Agreement, doubling the joint cofinancing target to $6 billion for 2026–2028. While in Paris, he also held discussions with Emmanuel Moulin, Secretary General of the French Presidency, to reaffirm ADB’s strong partnership with France and explore opportunities for strategic cooperation, and with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann to further advance collaboration following the renewal of the ADB–OECD Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year.
Mr. Kanda also participated in the Heads of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) meeting hosted by the Council of Europe Development Bank in Paris, where he highlighted ADB’s support for joint MDB initiatives to scale up investment in social infrastructure and deliver on shared 2025 priorities, including local currency finance, private capital mobilization, and nature finance.
Following his meetings in Paris, Mr. Kanda traveled to Seville to participate in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. There, he joined the opening ceremony and engaged in high-level panel on mobilizing private capital for development, with a focus on unlocking investment and driving progress toward resilient and inclusive economies.
On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Kanda met with Anne Aly, Australia’s Minister for International Development, to discuss Australia’s longstanding support for ADB and shared priorities in the Pacific. He also met Ville Tavio, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, to highlight Finland’s partnership in climate innovation, education, and digital transformation; with Spain’s Minister of Finance Carlos Cuerpo, to express gratitude for Spain’s financial contributions to ADB and leadership as host of FfD4; and with Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to discuss enhanced collaboration on food security and sustainable growth.
Mr. Kanda was honored to join a high-level dinner hosted by Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and other leaders, recognizing Spain’s leadership in fostering multilateralism and international cooperation.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.
