DUSHANBE, May 2, 2011, Asia-Plus – A Tajik delegation will attend the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) 44th Annual Meeting of its Board of Governors that formally starts in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 3 and runs through May 6, the ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM) said.

The Tajik delegation is headed by Matloubkhon Davlatov, Head of President’s Executive Office, who is also ADB Governor for Tajikistan, and also comprises Sharif Rahimzoda, Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT).

Nearly 4,000 delegates – comprising top policymakers, business leaders, media, academics, and civil society and development institution representatives – are set to attend the meeting.

High level officials from Asia and the Pacific will join other delegates to discuss means of addressing rising concerns over food and energy prices, climate change, and the best strategies for ADB to work with the public and private sectors to reduce poverty and ensure long-term economic growth in Asia and the Pacific.

At this year’s meeting, ADB will present initial findings of its upcoming report, Asia 2050 – Realizing the Asian Century , which looks at the demographic, social, environmental, and economic challenges ahead and what the region must do to secure a prosperous future 40 years from now.

ADB is also holding, with the G20, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Japanese Ministry of Finance, a key discussion about the reform of the international monetary system given Asia’s increasing economic and financial clout.

The Board of Governors is ADB’s highest policy-making body and the annual meetings are statutory occasions at which Governors can provide guidance on ADB’s administrative, financial, and operational priorities.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration.  Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region.  In 2010, ADB approvals, including co-financing, totaled $17.51 billion.  In addition, ADB''s ongoing Trade Finance Program supported $2.8 billion in trade.