Pragmatic actions will be taken to help build resilient nations, Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Masato Kanda vowed during his first day in office on Monday.

As ADB’s 11th president, Kanda said he will be harnessing insights from 69 state-members of the global institution to minimize poverty and sustain socioeconomic progress in Asia and the Pacific.

“Our focus will be on pragmatic actions that deliver real results,” he said in a statement released Monday.

“I am ready to harness the collective expertise within our organization and work closely with our partners to drive transformative change, especially for those most in need,” Kanda added.

Kanda previously worked as Japan’s Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs for four years, tackling issues on budget and policy planning and coordination.

During his term, ADB said Japan contributed over $1 billion to the Asian Development Fund’s 13th replenishment.

Kanda is a graduate of Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tokyo and Economics from Oxford University .

Kanda replaced Masatsugu Asakawa who led ADB from 17 January 2020 to 23 February 2025. ADB said he had secured $100 billion in additional loanable funds which can be used for the next 10 years.

“I am deeply honored to take on the role of ADB president at this important moment for our region,” Kanda said.