By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
New Zealand has welcomed the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) stronger focus on quality, competition, and value for money in its procurement processes.
Speaking at the Governors’ high-level session during ADB’s Annual Meeting in Samarkand, New Zealand’s Temporary Alternate Governor, Llewellyn Roberts, said her government supports recent reforms, including the use of merit-based evaluation criteria for major contracts.
“We welcome the bank’s increased focus on quality, competition, and value for money, including the directive to use merit-point criteria, improve early market engagement, and strengthen local labour participation,” Roberts said.
She said New Zealand also supports the use of Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles to ensure development impact remains central to ADB’s work.
Roberts acknowledged ADB’s efforts to engage more with contractors in the Pacific and to build awareness of its work but noted that further improvements in communication are needed.
“The bank has a strong story to tell,” she said.
New Zealand welcomed ADB’s growing support for private sector development, regional cooperation, digital transformation, and climate resilience across Asia and the Pacific.
“In this time of uncertainty, ADB can continue to set the standard for flexibility, responsiveness, good governance, and effective development assistance,” Roberts said.
She reiterated New Zealand’s long-standing support for ADB, describing its role as critical to the region’s economic wellbeing.
At the Pacific sub-regional level, she said New Zealand will continue to support regional integration through PACER Plus and promote investment in internet connectivity to drive digital innovation and improve public services.
Roberts also highlighted the immediate risks facing Pacific countries due to disruptions to global shipping routes, including through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Most Pacific countries rely on imported fuel from Asia and do not have domestic refining capacity,” she said.
“In island states, electricity generation remains heavily dependent on imported fuels, and limited storage capacity adds to their vulnerability.”
She said these challenges compound existing constraints faced by small island states, including distance from markets and small populations.
New Zealand welcomed ADB’s proactive engagement with Pacific countries to provide financial tools to help cushion the impact of the crisis.
“We look forward to seeing how these tools are deployed and how ADB is coordinating with other international partners,” Roberts said.
