Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed a new country director for the Philippines.
Pavit Ramachandran assumed his new role on Friday, succeeding Kelly Bird, who is now an advisor for ADB’s East Asia department, the regional bank said.
Ramachandran served as country director for Mongolia prior to the appointment but worked on Philippine projects from 2009 to 2014.
He will oversee the implementation of the ADB’s current country partnership strategy (CPS) which involves $4 billion worth of sovereign loans identified for the Philippines this year.
These include loans for the Marcos administration’s priority infrastructure projects, such as the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project and the Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, the bank said.
Ramachandran will also lead the preparation of the CPS covering 2024–2029.
In a statement, the new country director said he looks forward to further solidifying the ADB’s “unique and enduring partnership” with the Philippines, and finding solutions to the nation’s development needs.
“My immediate priority is to ensure we deliver on our commitments to help the country address its poverty, climate change, and infrastructure development challenges,” he said.
