Thursday, February 3, 2011

ADB President Calls on Union Finance Minister:

Both Agree for Further Strengthening of Cooperation Between India and ADB


Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been playing not only the role of prime lender for us but also a development bank for the whole region. Shri Mukherjee said that India has been a prime borrower of ADB for last 25 years as it was in 1986 when first borrowing was made by India from ADB on the initiative of then Prime Minister late Shri Rajeev Gandhi. He acknowledged that borrowing from ADB helped us a lot especially in substantive funding of infrastructure projects. The Finance Minister was speaking after Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda, President, ADB called on him in his office, here today. Earlier, Mr. Kuroda said that India is not only leading the global economy but also playing a major role in this region. He said that we are celebrating Silver Jubilee anniversary of our relationship and cooperation and hoped for another decade of strengthening relationship and mutual cooperation between ADB and India.

Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that India is also promoting Public Private Partnership (PPP) especially in infrastructure projects as we need one trillion dollars for this purpose during the 12th Plan out of which 50% has to come from private sector. The Finance Minister said that to mark the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of relationships, India would be willing partner with ADB in promoting and developing regional and sub-regional cooperation in this region. Shri Mukherjee said that India would be hosting ADB Regional Meeting in 2013. He hoped that our long standing association with ADB would be further strengthened in years to come.

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