The Asian Development Bank has appointed Hoe Yun Jeong as its new country director for Bangladesh.
Jeong will lead the ADB鈥檚 operations in Bangladesh and policy dialogue with the interim government, development partners, and other stakeholders, said a press release issued by the ADB in Dhaka on Tuesday.
He will initiate the preparation of the ADB鈥檚 upcoming country partnership strategy for Bangladesh. The current CPS will end in 2025.
鈥業 look forward to working closely with the interim government and the people of Bangladesh to restore economic and fiscal stability and implement broad-based reforms critical for economic diversification and a sustained growth trajectory, including progress toward the country鈥檚 long-term development goals,鈥� Jeong said.
Support for inclusive, climate-resilient, and robust development would be pursued in close collaboration with the interim government, development partners, and the people of Bangladesh to promote a more harmonious and sustainable growth process, he added.
Jeong, a national of the Republic of Korea, has 25 years of professional experience, including about 15 years in the ADB. Prior to joining the bank, he held senior positions in the Republic of Korea鈥檚 Ministry of Strategy and Finance, according to the press release.
He joined the ADB in 2009 as an economist and worked extensively in regional cooperation and operations.
In 2018, he moved to the ADB鈥檚 India resident mission, where he served in senior roles, including as the deputy country director.
Holding a master鈥檚 degree in business administration from the University of Washington, United States, and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics from Seoul National University, Republic of Korea, Jeong was instrumental in enhancing relationships with development partners, facilitating efforts to lower the cost of financing to clients, enhancing knowledge operations, and coordinating the ADB鈥檚 support for India鈥檚 G20 Presidency.
In 1973, Bangladesh became a member of the ADB, which has committed around $61 billion in loans and grants to the country, including cofinancing.
The ADB鈥檚 priority areas for support in Bangladesh include energy, transport, urban infrastructure, water supply and sanitation, education, agriculture and natural resources, and finance.
As of September 2024, the ADB鈥檚 Bangladesh portfolio includes 53 projects worth around $13 billion.
