ADB-CDIA Honored by Visit from Spanish Delegation

December 18, 2024

On 26 November 2024, ADB-CDIA welcomed a distinguished delegation from the Spanish Government, led by His Excellency Miguel Utray, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, and Fernando Jimenez-Ontiveros, Director for Multilateral, Horizontal and Financial Cooperation (AECID) of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.  

With them were Jose Antonio Varea, Head of the Multilateral Department of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, and Tomas Fernandez Garcia, ADB Partnerships Specialist, a secondee from Spain.  

The series of meetings with ADB officials aimed to deepen the partnership between the bank and the Spanish government, which is a primary supporter of CDIA. Spain’s € 5 million contribution in 2022 has been instrumental in advancing the facility’s mission of preparing climate-resilient and inclusive infrastructure projects in select countries in Asia and the Pacific. 

During the meeting with ADB-CDIA, Lara Arjan, Project Officer in charge of CDIA, gave a snapshot of its work and highlighted projects and activities that could be of interest to the Spanish delegation.  

Satoshi Ishii, ADB’s Strategy and Partnerships Director, explained further the Water and Urban Development Sector Office’s objectives, priorities, and setup, which can be leveraged to strengthen cooperation with the Spanish Government.  

Director Jimenez-Ontiveros expressed his enthusiasm for ADB’s alignment with the Spanish development priorities and the potential opportunities for expanding collaboration. He looked forward to the Spanish Learning Week in April 2025, seeing it as a platform for building local capacities leveraging Spanish experience, and engaging private companies in developing sustainable and climate-resilient projects. Through CDIA, ADB and the Spanish Government aim to advance initiatives that promote sustainable urban development across Asia and the Pacific. These efforts reflect a shared commitment to delivering meaningful and impactful solutions that benefit cities and their residents throughout the region. 

Photo:

L-R: Brian Capati, CDIA Urban Development Specialist; Ivan Fuentetaja Rodriguez, CDIA Urban Development Specialist; Satoshi Ishii, ADB Strategy and Partnerships Director; Lara Arjan, ADB Senior Urban Development Specialist; His Excellency Miguel Utray, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines; Fernando Jimenez-Ontiveros, Director for Multilateral, Horizontal and Financial Cooperation (AECID) of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation; and Tomas Fernandez Garcia, ADB Partnerships Specialist.