The Governors of the 11 Pacific developing member countries kicked start the 52nd Asian Development Bank’s annual board of governors meeting.

A preparatory meeting, the deliberations of the closed meeting are expected to focus on climate change and ocean health which are issues critical to the Pacific and Asia regions.

ADB Director General for the Pacific Department Carmela Locsin stressed the importance of the relationship with the Pacific states.

Locsin says that overall support funding through concessional loans to the Pacific developing member states has increased.

In addition, the ADB will establish country offices in each of the Pacific member states.

Meanwhile, Fiji has through its new ADB partnership for 2019 to 2023 confirmed $1.3 billion in assistance.

The high-level ADB meeting begins today and will conclude on Saturday.

Close to 3, 000 delegates from 83 countries are in attendance.