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ADB Unanimously Reelects Masato Kanda for Second Five‑Year Term

Members backed leadership continuity to push the bank to deploy larger, faster financing following a charter change that expanded its lending power.

Overview

  • The ADB announced Tuesday that its Board of Governors gave Masato Kanda unanimous support for a second five‑year term that begins November 24, 2026.
  • Since Kanda first took office in February 2025 the bank reported record support of $44 billion in 2025 with more than $29 billion from its own resources and nearly $15 billion in cofinancing.
  • A recent amendment to the ADB Charter raised annual own‑resource financing capacity by 50 percent, allowing annual lending to exceed $36 billion and underpinning the bank’s plan to act faster and at greater scale.
  • Kanda said the bank must be the region’s 'anchor of stability' while mobilising quickly to meet member needs, a message members cited in backing his return.
  • The bank is already applying the expanded capacity through country work such as a Transaction Advisory Services Agreement with Pakistan to advise on outsourcing Islamabad International Airport, which covers technical, financial, legal and commercial support.