ADB

ADB business opportunities arise primarily in the following sectors, where ADB actively funds development projects: 

•    Agriculture and Natural Resources (including agro-industry, marketing, and trade) 
•    Education and Training (including distance learning) 
•    Energy (including electric power, oil & gas and renewable energy) 
•    Environment (including water supply, waste treatment and environmental management) 
•    Industry, Finance and Other Services (including banking, insurance and project finance) 
•    Healthcare and Nutrition 
•    Information Technology and Telecommunications (including e-government services) 
•    Transportation (including road, rail, port and airport projects) 
•    Urban Development (including housing and infrastructure) 

ADB lending activities in 2020 

ADB’s 2020 commitments reached more than $48 billion in the form of loans ($27 billion), project cofinancing ($12.9 billion),  Trade Finance Program, Supply Chain Finance Program, and Microfinance Program ($6.3 billion); technical assistance ($467 million); grants ($1 billion); equity investments ($255 million); transaction advisory service ($76 million); and other nonsovereign special funds ($11.7 million).

In 2020, Indonesia was the largest recipient of total ADB commitments with $6.7 billion. India was second with $6.2 billion; the Philippines was third with $5.8 billion; Pakistan - a close fourth with $4.4 billion; and Bangladesh was fifth with $4.3 billion.

Public sector management received the largest share with $19 billion (39.8%), followed by Industry and Trade with $6.6 billion (13.8%). Energy received $6 billion (12.6%). Finance had $4.1 billion (8.5%). Transport got $3.99 billion (8.3%). Water and Other Urban Infrastructure and Services had $2.44 billion (5.1%). Health had $1.99 billion (4.2%). Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education, and ICT stood at $1.9 million (4%), $1.8 million (3.7%), and $0.01 million, respectively.

ADB Business Opportunities Open to U.S. Firms

Procurement and consulting opportunities derived from Asian Development Bank (ADB) operations are open to all ADB member countries, which makes U.S. firms and individual consultants eligible to bid on ADB-generated contracts. ADB procurement policy and regulations prevail throughout the project cycle to ensure open and transparent competition. Contract awards are based on the merits of the proposals. 

Business opportunities exist throughout the ADB project cycle:

• Planned projects: The Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) provides strategic framework on how ADB will engage with each developing member countries. A supporting document to the CPS is the Country Operations Business Plans (COBP) that outlines ADB’s indicative lending and grant program in each developing member countries for a three-year rolling period. U.S. firms and individuals can formulate an early marketing strategy based on these COBPs.
• During the project processing cycle, ADB contracts directly with consulting and engineering design firms to conduct project preparatory technical assistance, and to refine the project design and prepare loan documents. These are advertised on ADB Consultant Management System’s (CMS) consulting opportunities. Aspiring consultants must register on ADB CMS and must update their account henceforth.
• Upon ADB approval of a loan project, the borrowing government’s executing agency prepares the bid documents and international tenders for procurement of goods, and any additional consulting services required for the project execution. These are advertised on ADB Tenders page.

ADB itself procures goods, works and services to support the operations of its Manila headquarters, Resident and Representative Offices. Learn more by clicking on Institutional/Corporate Procurement.

ADB also lends directly to privately owned enterprises for financially viable projects with significant developmental impact.  In lending to private sector projects, ADB plays the role of a catalyst to leverage additional investment and financing, and to mitigate risks of co-financiers and private developers. Learn more by clicking on ADB’s Private Sector Operations.  

Business Facilitation Service Request

If you are a U.S. firm interested in doing business with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and would like to know more about the various business opportunities within ADB, you can avail of our free Business Facilitation Service. Please send us an e-mail with some information about your firm.

The US Commercial Service’s Liaison Office to ADB in coordination with the Office of the U.S. Executive Director at ADB provides the following services free of charge to U.S. firms pursuing business opportunities at ADB:

• Market Research and Outreach: Information on ADB project and its procurement opportunities and business orientation seminars
• Counseling: Comprehensive advice on how to successfully pursue ADB opportunities through in-office visits, outreach missions, tele- or video-conferencing, and via email
• Business Facilitation Service: Meetings with ADB officers to facilitate informal marketing or technical presentations; collaborated efforts with other Commercial Service colleagues to facilitate Gold Key schedules with business and government contacts in other Asian markets
• Advocacy: U.S. Government advocacy in partnership with the U.S. Executive Director’s office at the ADB, on behalf of U.S. firms to support open and transparent competition  

Our Country Market Briefs cover around 38 developing member countries of the ADB. The reports summarize ADB planned and approved loan projects and technical assistance.

Market Briefs by Country and by Region

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• Central and West Asia countries
• China
• India
• Indonesia
• Laos    
• Maldives
• Mongolia
• Nepal
• Pacific Island countries
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Market Briefs by Sector

• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Education
• Energy
• Environment    
• Health
• Industry, Finance and Others
• Transportation and Communications
• Urban Development

Who we are

The U.S. Commercial Service’s Liaison Office to the Asian Development Bank (CS ADB), based in U.S. Embassy in Manila, began its operations in 1992 and is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s global network of export development offices. CS ADB works directly with U.S. firms to target major projects, consulting, and procurement opportunities generated from the Asian Development Bank’s direct lending and grant activities. CS ADB also works with U.S. sponsors/developers of private projects who can benefit from the lending and risk mitigation activities of the ADB’s Private Sector Department, and the ADB’s Strategy, Policy and Partnerships Department. An American Director/Senior Commercial Officer, Mr. Mark OGrady, leads the office and works closely with the Office of the U.S. Executive Director to the ADB.

Our Mission

To provide assistance and advocacy for U.S. firms pursuing business opportunities generated by the ADB’s lending and grant activities. 

Our Scope

The market for US goods and services that is generated through ADB lending activity is regional, encompassing 45 ADB developing member countries in the East, South, Southeast, Central and West Asia, as well as the Pacific.

Since the United States is one of ADB’s 68 member countries, U.S. firms are eligible to bid on ADB-funded procurement and consulting opportunities.

The ADB developing member countries are:

• Afghanistan
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• China, PR
• Cook Islands
• Fiji Islands
• Georgia
• Hong Kong, China
• India
• Indonesia
• Kazakhstan
• Kiribati
• South Korea
• Kyrgyz Republic
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• Mongolia
• Myanmar (Burma)
• Nauru
• Nepal
• Niue
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Samoa
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• Sri Lanka
• Taipei, China
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Turkmenistan
• Tuvalu
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vietnam

• The Guide to Doing Business with the Multilateral Development Banks
• The Advocacy Center of the U.S. International Trade Administration
• Asian Development Bank
• ADB Procurement Policy
• Consultant Management System: Quick Reference Guides
• Guidelines for Procurement under ADB Loans
• US Commercial Service Liaison Office to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• US Commercial Service Liaison Office to the African Development Bank (AfDB)
• US Commercial Service Liaison Office to the Inter-American Development Bank(IDB)
• US Commercial Service Liaison Office to the World Bank (WB)
• United States Trade and Development Agency
• US International Development Finance Corporation
• 2021 ADB Energy Policy