The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed $2.6 billion in sovereign lending to India in 2023, aiming to bolster various sectors including urban development, power, industry, horticulture, connectivity, and climate resilience.
Focus Areas of ADB’s Sovereign Loans
The loans target projects fostering India’s structural transformation, job creation, infrastructure enhancement, green growth, and socioeconomic inclusiveness, integrating smart technologies and innovations.
Key Projects Supported by ADB
Funding includes initiatives such as the Visakhapatnam–Chennai Industrial Corridor, urban service improvement in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Tripura, road connectivity in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, horticulture development in Himachal Pradesh, and expansion of the Delhi–Meerut rapid rail transit corridor.
Knowledge-Based Support and Technical Assistance
Beyond financial aid, ADB offers knowledge support through technical and operational studies, aiding in areas like national logistics costs calculation framework and urban sector development strategies for states like Assam.
Private Sector Engagement and Grants
ADB also extended $23.53 million for technical assistance and a $4.1 million grant, alongside over $1 billion in loans to the private sector in 2023, with grants exempting repayment obligations.
India’s Relationship with ADB
India, a member since the ADB’s inception in 1966, remains its largest borrower, receiving loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $55.3 billion. India ranks fourth among ADB shareholders, with the United States, Japan, China, and Australia as the top shareholders.
About the Asian Development Bank
Established in 1966 with India among its founding members, ADB operates as a regional multilateral institution, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. With 68 members, it provides loans, grants, technical assistance, and equity investments to foster social and economic development, headquartered in Mandaluyong City, Philippines, under the presidency of Masatsugu Asakawa, a Japanese citizen.