ADB & Spain
By Hemantha Withanage
Spain joined the Asian Development Bank in 1986. It is one of the 19 non-regional members that have 12,040 subscribed capital shares (0.34?%) with 25,427 votes (0.57% voting power). With the United States and Japan being the most powerful with 12 votes each, Spain is the 29th largest shareholder. It has contributed US$181 million in capital subscription and US$367 million to special funds since joining in 1986. Spanish companies and consultants have been awarded US$166 million in procurement contracts on ADB-financed projects ever since it has joined the Bank.
In 2006, the ADB approved US$7 billion in loans and grants for projects and US$241 million in technical assistance, generating US$1.48 billion in direct value-added co-financing from financing partnerships operations.
As of 31 December 2006, the cumulative total of ADB’s procurement contracts were US$123 billion in loans for 2,002 projects in 39 countries and US$3 billion for 6,153 technical assistance projects, including regional technical assistance projects.
• Spain has contributed US$360 million to the Asian Development Fund (ADF) which is ADB’s window for concessional lending to its borrowing members. As of December 2006, it has contributed around US$6 million to the Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF) which provides grants to borrowing members to help prepare projects and undertake technical or policy studies.
• A channel financing agreement between Spain and the ADB was signed on 12 July 2001. The total contribution amounted to US$5 million. Starting January 2007, priorities have been road transport, energy, urban infrastructure (water supply, sanitation, waste management, and urban transport), rural infrastructure (roads, power, irrigation, and water management), financial sector, and railway sectors in the People’s Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam. As of 31 December 2006, there were 10 projects co-financed from the Cooperation Fund for about US$4 million.
• As initial contributor to the Asia Pacific Carbon Fund (APCF), Spain has remitted US$30 million equivalent in late 2006. The agreement between Spain and the ADB was signed on 28 November 2006.
• Spain has been a co-financer to ADB projects. Co-financing with Spain from January 2002 to December 2006 comprised one investment project, one commercial project and 10 technical assistance projects amounting to US$22 million.
• Investment project co-financed with Portugal from January 2002 to December 2006 for India National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. Capacity Expansion has been US$75 million from the ADB and US$9 million under co-financing.
• Spain’s cumulative share of procurement contracts amounts to US$158 million for goods and related services and civil works, and US$7 million in consulting services.
• Since 1985, Spanish consultants have been involved in only three contracts for ADB loan projects worth US$750,000. The top consulting firm has been Soluziona Consultiria y Tecnologia with a contract amounting to US$590,000
• Since 1985, Spanish consultants have been involved in 29 contracts for ADB technical assistance projects worth US$7 million.
ADB Governor for Spain: The Honorable Pedro Solbes Mira, Second Vice-President and Minister of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Economy and Finance
ADB Alternate Governor: Mr. David Vergara Figueras, Secretary of State of Economy, Ministry of Economy and Finance.
ADB Executive Director: Mr. Patrick Pillon (ppillon@adb.org), a French national, is ADB’s Executive Director for Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.
ADB Alternate Executive Director: Mr. João Simões de Almeida is the ADB Alternate Executive Director for Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. Mr. Almeida is Portuguese.
Based on ADB & Spain factsheet date 31 September 2006.