Manila: The Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved amendments to the Bank’s Charter, APA-Economics reports. This amendment will allow ADB to remove the lending limit and increase annual financing by 50%, reaching a level above 36 billion dollars.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, ADB President Masato Kanda called the decision a ‘historic step’ and stated that this increase will not require additional capital from shareholders. This marks the first amendment to the Charter since 1966 and is set to enter into force three months after the official notification. With the support of 61 member countries, the voting threshold has been passed.
ADB states that the expansion of lending opportunities will create more resources for reducing poverty in the region, increasing employment and education opportunities, as well as supporting vulnerable communities. According to the Bank’s plan, annual financing will rise from 24 billion dollars in 2024 to a level above 36 billion dollars by 2034. This plan is based on capital management reforms approved in 2023 and agreements on reducing portfolio risks with multilateral development banks.
These resources will play a crucial role in achieving ADB’s 2030 targets. The Bank aims to quadruple private sector financing by increasing it to 13 billion dollars annually and to direct 40% of sovereign operations directly toward private sector development. ADB currently has 69 member countries, 50 of which are located in the Asia-Pacific region. As of November 14, 2025, the total voting share of members supporting the amendment amounted to 75.2%.