The 52nd Asian Development Bank’s Annual Board of Governors meeting has been hailed as one “exceeding expectations”.

In a press conference in Denarau yesterday, ADB President Takehiko Nakao says the arrangements, logistically and the issues such as climate change and sustainable tourism were discussed and had exceeded what his expectations were before he arrived into the country.

Board of Governors Chair, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji’s hosting of the meeting will be the first of many.

He says that any such multilateral gatherings held in the country must be seen as an achievement for the Pacific.

More than 2000 delegates and 140 journalists from the Asia Pacific region and beyond converged to Denarau Island for series of meetings which were held at multiple locations.

Discussion included a plethora of issues that affect the ADB member countries.

Sayed-Khaiyum also handed over the baton to South Korea – the hosts of the 53rd ADB conference 2020.

The Baton was handed over to the Republic of Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister Nam-ki Hong.