Dr. Kao Thach: Partnerships Among Development Finance Institutions Drive Resource Mobilization and Greater Regional Development Impact

Delivering the opening remarks at the 49th ADFIAP Annual Meeting on September 23, 2026, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, under the theme “Partnerships for Prosperity: Unlocking Regional Potential,” H.E. Dr. Kao Thach, Government Delegate in charge of and Director General of the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB), and President of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), said that partnerships among development finance institutions are a driving force for mobilizing resources and increasing development impact in the region.

Dr. Kao highlighted that regional development challenges—including climate change, limited development financing and social inclusion—cannot be addressed by any single institution alone. Partnerships among development finance institutions, governments, development partners and the private sector can help mobilize resources, share risks, leverage expertise and expand financing to generate broader development impact.

Dr. Kao also emphasized: “One development finance institution (DFI) can finance a program, but a strong network of DFIs can jointly create an investment system.” This can be achieved by promoting co-financing, sharing risks, mobilizing resources and expanding effective solutions to other markets and countries across the region.

It is worth noting that, in his opening remarks at the 49th ADFIAP Annual Meeting, Dr. Kao Thach also offered a message to the leaders of development finance institutions, the private sector and distinguished guests in attendance: “Let us finance together, mobilize resources together, share risks together and scale our impact together—for shared prosperity and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.”