Sona Shrestha Appointed Director General of ADB's South Asia Department

KATHMANDU — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Nepali citizen Sona Shrestha as the Director General of its South Asia Department. According to a statement issued by the ADB headquarters in Manila on Wednesday, Shrestha will lead the bank's strategy and program operations in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Following her appointment, Shrestha expressed her pride in leading the South Asia region and committed to deepening ADB's engagement for inclusive and sustainable development by working closely with member nations in the region.

Shrestha is an experienced leader in the development sector with over 27 years of professional experience, having spent 23 years at the ADB. Previously, she served as the Deputy Director General of the South Asia Department. She has also served as the Deputy Director General of the Independent Evaluation Department, Assistant Secretary, Director of the Financial Sector and Trade Division for Southeast Asia, and Deputy Country Director for Indonesia.

During her early tenure at the ADB, she gained operational experience across Central and West Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. A Nepali citizen, Shrestha holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Economics from the University of California, USA. She earned her undergraduate degree in Economics from Smith College in Massachusetts.

Established in 1966, the ADB is a major multilateral development bank dedicated to promoting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economic growth in the Asia and Pacific region. The ADB has 69 member nations, 50 of which are regional members.