DHAKA, Oct 5, 2021 (BSS) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed
Edimon Ginting as its new Country Director for Bangladesh.
Ginting assumed office today. He succeeds Manmohan Parkash who recently
joined ADB's South Asia Department as Deputy Director General.
Ginting will lead ADB's operations in Bangladesh and policy dialogue with
the government, development partners, and other stakeholders, said an ADB
press release.
He will oversee the implementation of ADB's upcoming country partnership
strategy for Bangladesh, 2021-2025, which focuses on a rapid socioeconomic
recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting competitiveness by improving
infrastructure for private sector-led development, promoting green growth and
climate resilience, and strengthening human capital and social protection,
among others.
"Mr. Ginting brings strong strategic leadership skills as ADB's Country
Director for Bangladesh in helping the country to reduce poverty and promote
inclusive, sustainable, and climate resilient socioeconomic development,"
said ADB Director General for South Asia Kenichi Yokoyama.
"The ADB team led by Mr. Ginting will further widen and deepen the strong
Bangladesh-ADB partnership by managing the sovereign, private sector, and
knowledge operations effectively."added Kenichi.
"I look forward to working closely with the government and the people of
Bangladesh to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, restore high economic growth,
and achieve the country's development goals, including becoming an upper
middle-income country in 2031 and a developed nation in 2041," Ginting said.
"Inclusive, climate-resilient, and environment-friendly development will be
pursued in close collaboration with the government and development partners
to promote a more harmonious and sustainable growth process in the
country."he added.
Ginting has 22 years of professional experience, including about 14 years
in ADB. Prior to joining ADB, he worked as Economist at the International
Monetary Fund in the United States and as an Advisor to the Budget Committee
of the Indonesian Parliament.
He joined ADB in 2007 as an Economist and held a series of senior
positions, including Senior Country Economist and Deputy Country Director at
ADB's Indonesia Resident Mission, and Director for Economic Analysis and
Operational Support Division at ADB headquarters.
Ginting has been working as the Deputy Director General for ADB's Economic
Research and Regional Cooperation Department since 2018.
Ginting, a national of Indonesia, holds a doctorate degree in economics
from Monash University, Australia. He also holds a master's degree in
economics from Thammasat University, Thailand and a bachelor's degree in
economics and development studies from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia.
Since joining ADB in 1973, Bangladesh received over $45 billion in loans
and grants, including cofinancing.
ADB's priority areas for support in Bangladesh include energy, transport,
urban infrastructure and water supply and sanitation, education, agriculture
and natural resources, and finance sectors. As of October 2021, ADB's
Bangladesh portfolio includes 52 projects worth around $12.7 billion.