ADB Annual Meetings. It’s more fun in the Philippines

“Manila 2012 has put the Philippines back on the radar screen of the international community. I would like to congratulate all of our colleagues in government, our partners in the private sector, and the many volunteers who willingly lent their time and smiles that made this even such a success. We have truly shown that the greatness of the Philippines rests on the greatness of the Filipino. As President Aquino said, the Filipino is indeed our nation’s greatest resource.

“I thank the ADB Board of Governors for giving the Philippines the opportunity to host its 45th Annual Meeting. It has been a pleasure for the country to welcome delegates from the different member governments, financial institutions, civil society, and the academe. I hope we can further build on the discussions and enrich the relationships that have been made these past few days. The opportunities that Asia faces can only be realized if we work together towards our common goals.

“We live in an age of transition. To be able to rapidly adjust to these changing times, we need to invest in the fundamentals – infrastructure, people and institutions. Challenges and crises will come and go but these can be overcome if we strengthen our foundations.

“To all our guests, it has been a pleasure for the Philippines to serve as your second home for these past few days. We hope this will not be the last time and I encourage you to see more of the Philippines and experience the warmth, hospitality, creativity and efficiency of the Filipino people in our 7,107 islands.

ADB Annual Meetings. It’s more fun in the Philippines.”