ADB appoints new country director for Kyrgyz Republic
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Zheng Wu as its new Country Director for the Kyrgyz Republic. Mr. Wu assumed office today.
Mr. Wu will lead ADB’s operations in the Kyrgyz Republic and continue to manage the bank’s relationship with the government and other stakeholders. He will oversee the implementation of ADB’s new country partnership strategy covering 2023–2027. The new strategy is expected to focus on enhancing economic inclusion, increasing the central Asian nation’s resilience to climate change and disasters, and improving the business environment.
“It is my privilege to lead ADB’s work in the Kyrgyz Republic and continue to help improve key public services, particularly in transport, energy, agriculture, water and urban development, education, and health,” said Mr. Wu. “With a fresh country partnership strategy and strong collaboration with our development partners, ADB will double down on its efforts to improve the lives of the Kyrgyz people and strengthen the country’s resilience in a region acutely threatened by climate change.”
Mr. Wu has more than 21 years of professional experience in infrastructure planning, development, and financing, including around 14 years in ADB. He was most recently Officer-in-Charge of the Transport and Communications Division in the Central and West Asia Department and has also headed the Project Administration Unit of ADB’s resident mission in Pakistan.
He holds a doctoral degree in transportation infrastructure and system engineering from Virginia Tech in the United States. He obtained a master’s degree in road and railway engineering and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Tongji University in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). He also has a post-graduate diploma in international construction contracts from Université Panthéon-Assas Paris 2 in France.
A national of the PRC, Mr. Wu succeeds Kanokpan Lao-Araya who was appointed as ADB Country Director for Uzbekistan.
ADB’s current operations in the Kyrgyz Republic focus on economic diversification, inclusive development, and social protection. Since the Kyrgyz Republic joined ADB in 1994, the bank has committed 208 public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $2.5 billion to the country.
ADB also supports the landlocked nation’s active participation in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program, a partnership of countries and development partners working together to promote sustainable development through regional cooperation.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
