Samarkand, Uzbekistan (4 May 2026): The 59th Annual Meeting of the ADB was held on 3-6 May 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The first official meeting was the Governors’ Business Session, and it was chaired by the President of Uzbekistan, Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as host of the annual meeting. President Mirziyoyev’s opening remarks outlined seven priority areas proposed for future collaboration with ADB, spanning public, private, and public–private partnership initiatives. These priorities include investments in digitalization and artificial intelligence, development

Samarkand, Uzbekistan (3 May 2026): The Ministers of Finance of the Pacific Developing Member Countries (PDMC) met with the ADB President, Mr Masato Kanda and the Pacific Department Management during the ADB annual meeting. This is the 36th PDMC Ministers of Finance Meeting.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan (4 May 2026): The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Finance, Mrs Kilisitina Tuaimei’api and Official from the Ministry of Finance attended the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 3-6 May 2026. During the ADB Annual Meeting, Mrs Tuaimei’api, attended the side meeting of the 3rd Japan-Pacific Islands Finance Ministers, on behalf of the Government of Tonga.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan (3 May 2026): On the margin of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Tonga Delegation, led by the CEO Finance, Mrs Kilisitina Tuaimei’api, held a productive bilateral meeting with the ADB Vice President of the East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region, Mr. Scott Morris. The meeting was also attended by the Director General for the Pacific Department (PARD), Ms Emma Veve and some of the ADB Pacific Management Team.

The Ministry of Finance is currently conducting consultations with all government line ministries in preparation for the 2026/27 Budget. As part of fuel cost-saving measures, these consultations are being held virtually, with in-person meetings limited to ministries within walking distance. This builds on the Ministry’s earlier initiative to enable the online submission and processing of budget transfer requests from line ministries compared to previous requirement of submitting them in person

On the margins of the Governing Council meeting at the IFAD Headquarters, CEO Kilisitina had the opportunity to publicly officiate the newest IFAD Project approved for Tonga in 2025 – the Tonga Rural Innovation Project Phase 3 (TRIP III). CEO Kilisitina represented the Minister of Finance – Hon. Lataifaingata’a Tangimana - on behalf of the Kingdom of Tonga, while the IFAD Asia Pacific Region (APR) Regional Director – Ms. Reehana Raza, represented the President of IFAD for this auspice event.

Today marks the 2nd day of the 49th Governing Council that convened the high-level dialogues by the Governors of the member states. The dialogue was clear in outlining the key issues from the global challenges that the Member States are facing in agriculture and rural development, but most importantly was how Governors provide strategic priorities as guidance for the upcoming IFAD 14 (IFAD14) replenishment in the medium term (2028-2030).