ADB reelects current president Masato Kanda for second 5-year term
“The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday reelected its current president, Masato Kanda, for a second term, adding that he received unanimous support from the members of ADB’s Board of Governors vot…”
ADB is a leading multilateraldevelopmentbank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet.
Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members — 50 from the region. In a press release, the bank said that "Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda received unanimous support for a second term as ADB president from the members of ADB’s Board of Governors voting in the recently concluded election.
His new term runs for five years beginning November 24, 2026. "ADB President Masato Kanda has received unanimous support for a second term as the bank's President from its Board of Governors. His new term begins on 24 November 2026.
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Read the full announcement here:https://t.co/rTPNMGp7Dcpic.twitter.com/Ww0HyzWFOa— Asian Development Bank (@ADB_HQ)September 1, 2026It added that Kanda was first elected as the bank's 11th president on November 27, 2024, and assumed the position on February 24, 2025, serving the remaining term of his predecessor, Masatsugu Asakawa. Read:ADB announces support package for developing countries affected by Middle East conflict.
According to the press release, the ADB "has significantly expanded its support to members during a period of overlapping crises" since Kanda took office, further adding that in 2025, it provided a "record $44 billion in support, including more than $29 billion from its own resources and nearly $15 billion in cofinancing".
"A historic amendment to the ADB Charter paved the way for a 50% increase in ADB’s annual financing capacity, enabling annual financing from ADB’s own resources to exceed $36 billion," it added. Read More:ADB launches $70b plan for energy, digital infrastructure in Asia-Pacific.
The ADB further noted that before joining it, Kanda served as a special adviser to Japan's prime minister and finance minister from 2024 to 2025, Japan's vice-minister of finance for international affairs from 2021 to 2024, and represented Japan in major international forums, including the Group of Seven and Group of Twenty.
“I am deeply honoured by the trust our members have placed in me at this critical moment in our region’s history.
New shocks are striking Asia and the Pacific, even before economies have recovered from the last, and the international order is under its greatest strain in generations,” Kanda stated in a post on X.“ADB must be the region's anchor of stability. But stability cannot mean standing still.
We must mobilise with speed and at the scale our members need, to protect people today while helping build a brighter future for the next generation.”I am deeply honored by our members' trust placed in me to continue serving as President of the Asian Development Bank, at this critical moment in our region’s history.
New shocks are striking Asia and the Pacific, even before economies have recovered from the last, and the…pic.twitter.com/s. Mu7EOTztb— Masato Kanda (@ADBPresident)September 1, 2026
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