ADB appoints new country director for Azerbaijan
The Asian Development Bank has appointed Nariman Mannapbekov the new country director for Azerbaijan.
Mannapbekov welcomed the opportunity to broaden ADB’s support for the country including the provision of support in new areas in the near future, the ADB Baku office reports.
“ADB and Azerbaijan have a strong relationship and I am honored to have the chance to continue our fruitful partnership,” he said.
“ADB’s current country partnership strategy prioritizes support in transport, energy, water and urban infrastructure, and our goal will be to ensure our effective cooperation with Azerbaijan’s Government in these priority sectors as well as in carrying its reform agenda.”
As Azerbaijan’s economy faces some challenges the government is moving away from a dependence on hydrocarbons as a major source of revenue. The Azerbaijan 2020 Development Concept provides a framework for the country’s transition to a knowledge-based economy, which entails improving infrastructure, making social development more inclusive by reducing regional economic disparities, promoting good governance, and improving the climate for private sector growth. ADB supports the government’s policies and strategies to diversify the economy, and to develop a knowledge-based economy.
Mannapbekov, aged 50, an Uzbek national, has extensive experience in Central and West Asia where he worked as a senior economist in a number of ADB’s resident missions. Before joining ADB, he held a number of government positions in Uzbekistan, including Counsellor on Foreign Economic Affairs to the Minister of Finance, and Assistant to the Prime Minister on international financial and economic issues. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the Institute of National Economy and Master’s degree from the Institute of Economy of the Academy of Sciences, Uzbekistan.
ADB has been assisting the Government of Azerbaijan since 1999 with approved loan and grant projects totaling about $2.6 billion, including private sector transactions worth about $738 million, as of end 2015.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region.
--
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz