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Asian Development
Bank planning 2001
meeting here

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By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

The president of the Asian Development Bank said the financial leaders of 59 countries who will meet here in May can learn something from Hawaii.

"Hawaii has lessons to offer on handling of environmental issues, social issues, infrastructure development and informational and communication technology," Tadao Chino told Hawaii business people yesterday at a Washington Place reception.

"Hawaii has achieved really remarkable growth without sacrificing, without damaging, without polluting the beautiful nature and environment."

Chino and staff members are in Honolulu this week for meetings to plan the bank's 2001 annual meeting which will bring more than 3,000 influential people from member governments and development, finance and banking industries.

The event from May 7-11 will be held at the Hawaii Convention Center, hosted by the U.S. Treasury Department. A staff member said the chief executive of a host country usually attends, a decision not expected until after the presidential election.

Among the plans being made are security preparations set off by a trend to use international economic conferences as a platform for anti-global demonstrations and advocacy on environmental and labor issues. The bank's annual meeting this year in Thailand drew demonstrators.

Gov. Ben Cayetano said he expects to be able to "demonstrate to all the rest of the world that Hawaii is not only a great place as far as aesthetics, it is a safe place."

The Manila-based bank was formed in 1966 with the mission of reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific.