Asian Development Bank (ADB)

The primary activity of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to support economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific. It primarily offers low-cost loans, guarantees, grants and advisory services. These financial products are intended to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access affordable financing, thereby promoting their growth and contribution to the local economy. The ADB's target market includes SMEs in developing countries of Asia and the Pacific, with a particular focus on improving access to credit, job creation and poverty reduction.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a multilateral development bank founded in 1966, owned by 69 members, 50 of whom are from the Asia-Pacific region. Its mission is to support sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth throughout Asia and the Pacific, working with its members and partners to provide development solutions tailored to the region’s complex challenges.

Among the key milestones in its development, ADB launched a supply chain finance program in 2012 to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Asia access low-cost credit. This program was implemented in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, enabling risk sharing and the financing of over $800 million in transactions over three years, mainly benefiting SMEs that supply large companies. This initiative aims to fill market gaps, support job creation, and strengthen intra-Asian supply chains as well as those between Asia and other regions.

The supply chain finance program complements ADB’s trade finance program, which provides guarantees and loans to banks. Unlike traditional approaches focused on guarantees and financial standing, this program assesses the strength and sustainability of relationships between buyers and suppliers, thereby promoting the stability and growth of SMEs. This strategy is part of ADB’s commitment to promoting innovation, job creation, and private sector development, while supporting the region’s economic resilience.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) was founded in 1966. Its main founder is considered to be the government of Japan, which played a key role in its creation, alongside other member countries from the Asia-Pacific region. The ADB is a multilateral institution, so there is not a single individual founder, but rather a collective initiative of the member countries.

The main members of the ADB’s leadership team are:

• President: Masatsugu Asakawa (since January 2020)
• Vice Presidents: Several vice presidents oversee different sectors, including operations management, administration, and finance.
• Board of Directors: Composed of representatives from the member countries, it oversees the bank’s strategy and policies.

The ADB works closely with governments, financial institutions, and the private sector to support economic and social development in Asia, notably through low-cost loans for small and medium-sized enterprises.