Host Country Agreements for the establishment of Asian Development Bank Country Offices in Kiribati, Tonga and Tuvalu were finalized in Denarau, Nadi, Fiji on 5 May 2019.

The signing of the Host Country Agreement was carried out in two separate occasions. The Tuvalu’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and an Asian Development Bank ADB Governor, Mr Maatia Toafe signed the agreement on 30 April.

Then Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu’I’onetoa, Tonga’s Minister of Finance and an ADB Governor, and the Kiribati Minister of Finance and Economic Development, and an ADB governor Mr Teuea Toatu signed the agreement on 5 May. The Director General for the Pacific Ms Carmela Locsin signed the agreements on the behalf of the ADB.

It is envisaged that the Pacific Islands country offices will enhance the impact of Asian Development Bank's growing assistance programs in these island countries.

The ADB’s portfolio of active investments in the Pacific has doubled every five years since 2005, and now stands at $2.8 billion, but it is expected to surpass $4 billion by 2020.

The Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu country offices will serve as extensions of the ADB’s Pacific Subregional Office in Fiji.