MDBs need to be bigger and better, but donor money is constrained: ADB's Um

Woochong Um in a virtual interview said that they need to double, triple and quadruple what they can do and bring in private capital

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently brought its capital management reforms that would unlock $100 billion in new funding capacity. ADB’s Managing Director General, Woochong Um, in a virtual interview with Ruchika Chitravanshi, said they need to double, triple and quadruple to bring in private capital. On increasing lending to India, Um said the money they can put through any country depends on the policy dialogue and their absorptive capacity. Edited excerpts:

Can you tell us about the reforms you have undertaken and what is on the anvil for ADB?

In determining how much we can lend, we have to