MILAN, Italy, May 6. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today welcomed Türkiye as its newest regional member, Trend’s special correspondent reports from Milan, Italy.
In a ceremony during ADB’s 58th Annual Meeting in Milan, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov said Türkiye’s transition to regional membership would provide the country with development opportunities through access to ADB’s financial resources, technical assistance, and capacity-building support. A nonsovereign operations framework agreement was also signed.
Türkiye joined ADB as a nonregional member in 1991. With its new status, Türkiye becomes eligible for ADB’s ordinary capital resources lending and full participation in ADB’s operations.
Türkiye’s borrowing levels will be determined by factors including demand and project readiness. ADB expects to begin lending operations following approval of an Interim Country Partnership Strategy, 2025–2027, expected in September 2025.
Türkiye’s Twelfth Development Plan, 2024–2028, will guide ADB’s engagement with the country. Priority areas include resilience and regional connectivity—such as water and urban development as well as agriculture and natural resources—sustainable infrastructure, and financial inclusion. Opportunities for cofinancing with other development partners are also being explored, along with the mobilization of private sector capital.