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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.
Mr. Ashok Lavasa is the Vice-President for Private Sector Operations and Public-Private Partnerships of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He assumed the position in September 2020.
Mr. Ashok Lavasa is responsible for ADB’s Private Sector Operations as well as Public-Private Partnerships.
ADB presents new cities concept at G20 workshop in India
VP Ashok Lavasa on 16 January 2023 in Maharashtra delivered the welcome speech at a high-level workshop on Financing Cities of Tomorrow as a part of the first Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting under the India G20 presidency. ADB South Asia Urban Development and Water Division Director Norio moderated a session on the financial capacity needs to increase private sector financing. Office of Public-Private Partnership Head Cleo delivered the closing remarks. ADB presented the “Architecture for Capacity Building of Local Governments for Building Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Cities" concept to the IWG. ADB is leading this deliverable as a knowledge partner under the India G20 Presidency.
VP Lavasa reaffirms support to private sector development, public-private partnerships in Bangladesh
VP Ashok Lavasa during his visit to Bangladesh from 7-11 December 2022 discussed ADB's continued support for private sector development, public-private partnerships, and climate change initiatives in meetings with senior government officials and sector leaders. The VP highlighted ADB’s priorities on green growth, use of innovative technologies, prudent macroeconomic management, higher domestic resource mobilization, just energy transition, enhanced service delivery, and more efficient project implementation. At the Bangladesh PPP Monitor launch on 8 December, the VP emphasized the value of conducive regulatory and institutional frameworks, public institutions’ capacity to prepare projects, and balanced risk allocations. VP Ashok also visited PPP projects and discussed the New Operating Model with Bangladesh Resident Mission staff.
ADB commits €10.8 million towards energy-efficient fabric manufacturing in Bangladesh
VP Ashok Lavasa participated in the signing ceremony on 11 December 2022 for a €10.8 million facility agreement with Envoy Textiles Limited. The loan will fund a new, automated, and more energy-efficient yarn spinning unit for Envoy’s in-house denim fabric production. This is ADB’s first private sector project in the textile sector in Bangladesh in two decades. Read the news release.
VP Lavasa moderates ADBI Annual Conference panel on resilient supply chains
VP Ashok Lavasa on 28 November 2022 moderated the discussion on Resilient Supply Chains for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation organized by ADBI as part of its Annual Conference held under the theme Fostering Resilient Global Supply Chains amid Risk and Uncertainty. The panelists discussed the challenges and policy recommendations needed to enhance the resilience of supply chains for climate mitigation and adaptation. They highlighted the importance of diversification of supply chains, regional cooperation for environmental innovation, and building resilience to climate change. They also discussed the need for government policies to induce demand for green growth. The panelists included experts from the University of Birmingham, International Solar Alliance, United Nations University, and the International Renewable Energy Agency.
ADB calls for more private sector-led development solutions
VP Ashok Lavasa on 21 November 2022 called for greater collaboration between ADB and its private sector clients to ensure Asia and the Pacific reaches its climate finance goals by 2030. More than 30 representatives from private sector companies in the Philippines joined the first client reception hosted by Private Sector Operations Department Director General Suzanne Gaboury in Manila. They learned how ADB and the country's private sector can work together in delivering private sector-led development solutions. Attendees included Aboitiz Group, AC Energy, ACEN Renewables, Alternergy, BDO, BPI, Buskowitz Energy, Cantilan Bank, CARD, Energy Development Corporation, Fruitas, Grow Capital Partners, Ignis Energia, Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines, MetPower Venture Capital Partners, SCB Philippines, and Vena Energy.
Mr. Ashok Lavasa is the Vice President for Private Sector Operations and Public Private Partnerships (VPPP) with the Asian Development Bank.
Prior to joining ADB in September 2020, Mr. Lavasa was an Election Commissioner in India from January 2018 to August 2020, a constitutional position appointed by the President of India.
Mr. Lavasa served for nearly four decades with various government agencies in India including as Union Finance Secretary, Secretary Environment & Climate Change and Secretary Civil Aviation. He also served as Additional Secretary and Special Secretary for Power. As a senior member of the Indian Administrative Service, Mr. Lavasa was associated with a broad array of public policy and program implementation initiatives covering the finance, power, environment and climate change, civil aviation, infrastructure, and tourism sectors. He led the official Indian delegation for climate change negotiations for the Paris Agreement at COP21.
He is the author of a book ‘An Ordinary Life: Portrait of an Indian Generation’ published in July 2021 by Harper Collins. Earlier, he has authored a book titled An Uncivil Servant (Rupa: 2006) and has written several book chapters and academic papers covering climate change, economic policy, and energy. He completed M. Phil. from Madras University (India), MBA from Southern Cross University (Australia) and MA (English) from Delhi University (India).
