ADB Appoints New Regional Director for Singapore Office

SINGAPORE — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Jackie Surtani as Regional Director of its Singapore Office, where he will lead efforts to deepen cooperation between ADB and the Government of Singapore and the financial sector, as well as explore opportunities for private and public sector projects across the region with a strong focus on climate action.

“Singapore plays a key role in fostering sustainable development across the region by serving as a hub for trade, finance, and infrastructure development,” said Mr. Surtani. “By expanding ADB’s presence and activities in Singapore, we can work more closely and efficiently with its strong ecosystem of financial institutions and other development partners for a more prosperous and resilient Asia and the Pacific.”

The Singapore Office was opened 2020. It provides clients with a one-stop-shop for enquiries and business opportunities, while streamlining ADB’s engagement with project sponsors, contractors, advisors, financiers, other international financial institutions, and professional service providers. This office reflects efforts under ADB’s new operating model to increase private sector activities and decentralize operations to better serve client needs.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Surtani was director of infrastructure finance at ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department covering East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. His team successfully closed milestone projects including investments in broadband satellites regionwide, renewable power in Indonesia, cross-border renewables in Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand, as well as investments in electric transport and charging infrastructure.

Mr. Surtani has over 30 years of experience in Asian infrastructure lending and advisory. He has strong sector and regional knowledge across the entire energy chain, as well as in infrastructure, and telecommunications. A citizen of the United Kingdom, he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Finance and Economics from the University of East Anglia in 1988 with a First-Class Honors degree. He obtained his Master of Philosophy Degree in Management Studies from the University of Oxford in 1990.

Singapore is a founding member of ADB. It contributes to ADB’s concessional fund, the Asian Development Fund, and is an active participant in the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, supported by ADB. In 2022, ADB and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote investment in Asia and the Pacific, and to recognize the importance of private sector finance as well as catalyzing public sector resources for sustainable and inclusive development.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.