The Asian Development Bank has appointed its new Regional Director for the Pacific Subregional Office in Suva, Fiji.
Masayuki Tachiiri will serve as theADB’s focal point for assistanceensuring the delivery of financing and knowledge solutions in theCook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago. He joined ADB in 2007 and worked inits South Asia Regional Departmentas well as theStrategy, Policy, and Review Department. He also had a short stint in aprivate advisory firm where he worked as financial advisor for public-private partnership infrastructure
“ADB’s Strategy 2030sets the course for our efforts to respond effectively to the Pacific subregion’s changing needs and will focus our efforts on the specific needs of small island developing states (SIDS),” said Tachiiri. “ADB will better support SIDS by combiningconcessional finance, knowledgeand advisory services, and partnership with diversestakeholders.”
Sustainable infrastructure investments will remain a priority in the Pacific subregion. ADB will continue to supportgovernments’ efforts to improve the business environment and promote private sector investment.
ADB supports climate-proofing in infrastructure investments and is enhancing countries’ preparedness for natural disasters. In Fiji, ADB is preparing a projectto mitigate and manage flooding along the Nadi River. ADB uses contingent financing schemes to quickly provide financial support for Pacific countries after natural disasters.
Fiji will host ADB’s 52nd Annual Meeting in May 2019. This will be the first time a Pacific developing member country has hosted an ADB Annual Meeting, which will be an opportunity to showcase achievements and opportunities in the Pacificsubregion.
Fiji has been a member of ADB since 1970, with support totaling $509 million in loans, $35 million in grants, and $32 million in technical assistance.In early 2019, ADB will launch a new Country Partnersh