Safdar Parvez has been selected by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as its Country Director for the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
According to a statement released by the ADB on Monday, Mr. Parvez has arrived in Beijing following his appointment last month.
As Country Director, he will be responsible for ADB’s operations in the PRC, including the implementation of the country partnership strategy (CPS) that prioritises high-quality, sustainable green development. The current CPS is important to the ADB’s reorientation of its relationship with China as an upper middle-income country.
Mr. Parvez stated, “I am profoundly honoured to be leading the office in the PRC, where I look forward to strengthening ADB’s longstanding partnership with the government and other key stakeholders.” “ADB will continue to work effectively with the PRC as a key player in ensuring environmentally sustainable development and climate change adaptation and mitigation.” We will collaborate on health security and assistance for an ageing society solutions. Additionally, we will endeavour to expand our assistance for institutional growth, knowledge management, and private sector development. Importantly, we will enable the exchange of information and best practises between the People’s Republic of China and developing ADB member countries in support of replicable development models.”
Safdar Parvez has over 26 years of professional experience, with over 20 years at ADB. He joined the ADB in 2002 and has held a number of top posts, such as Director for Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination in Central and West Asia and Advisor in East Asia. He has played a pivotal role in a number of ADB business strategy reforms and initiatives.
Since 1986, ADB has been collaborating with the PRC. The ADB has provided the PRC with 1,160 loans, grants, and technical support totaling $41.3 billion. ADB’s green development initiatives include projects in the greater Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region to increase sustainable financing for renewable energy, clean transportation, industrial energy efficiency, and cooling system retrofits.
Mr. Parvez, a Pakistani national, holds two master’s degrees in economics from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom and Quaid-e-Azam University in Pakistan, as well as a bachelor’s degree in economics from Government College in Pakistan. Prior to joining ADB, Mr. Parvez served as the Policy Manager for the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme.