https://www.adb.org/news/adb-mobilize-50-billion-turn-regional-connectiv...
“The $50 billion Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative is about building the infrastructure required for a more connected, resilient, and prosperous Asia and the Pacific," Mr. Kanda said. "Countries that stay connected attract investment and weather shocks better than those that turn inward. Connectivity is our answer to fragmentation.”
Speaking at the Governors’ Seminar on the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative (PAGI) during ADB’s 59th Annual Meeting, Mr. Kanda underscored ADB’s role in moving beyond standalone projects toward integrated regional systems that underpin growth, resilience, and energy security.
Launched on Sunday, PAGI is a flagship regional platform designed to accelerate cross border power trade, integrate renewable energy at scale, and strengthen the reliability and affordability of electricity across Asia and the Pacific.
Through PAGI, ADB aims to integrate about 20 gigawatts of renewables, connect 22,000 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines, improve energy access for 200 million people, and create 840,000 jobs by 2035.
ADB is leveraging its convening power to bring together governments, regulators, utilities, the private sector, and development partners to align policies, sequence investments, and resolve regulatory barriers that often delay regional infrastructure.
The bank has supported complex, pioneering cross border projects such as the Bangladesh–India grid interconnection and the Monsoon Wind Power Project in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, mobilizing private capital through blended finance.
To accelerate grid interconnections in Southeast Asia, ADB has launched a dedicated Regional Connectivity Fund which is supported by Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. The fund helps de risk early stage projects, finance preparation, and crowd in larger pools of public and private capital.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank 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.
