The Asian Development Bank has announced a $70 billion program to expand energy and digital infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region by 2035, with the dual aim of strengthening power grid links and increasing broadband access across some of the world’s most underserved communities. The announcement was made in Hanoi on Sunday, with ADB President Masato Kanda framing energy and digital connectivity as essential pillars of the region’s long-term economic growth.
The plan is divided into two major initiatives. The first is a $50 billion Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative, under which ADB aims to integrate approximately 20 gigawatts of renewable energy across borders, build 22,000 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines, and improve electricity access for 200 million people by 2035. The initiative is also expected to cut regional power-sector emissions by around 15%, with ADB financing roughly half from its own resources and the remainder coming from co-financing, including private investment.
The remaining $20 billion will be mobilized through the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway, targeting fiber-optic networks, subsea cables, satellite links, and regional data centers. The digital programme aims to provide first-time broadband access to 200 million people and improve connectivity for another 450 million by 2035, while reducing costs in remote areas by approximately 40% and creating up to 4 million jobs. ADB expects to finance $15 billion of the digital initiative from its own balance sheet.
The scale of the initiative reflects mounting urgency around infrastructure gaps in a region where demand for energy and digital services is accelerating alongside rapid technological change. By linking power grids and digital networks across national borders, ADB sees an opportunity to lower costs, expand economic opportunity and bring reliable infrastructure to hundreds of millions of people who currently lack consistent access.
KEY QUOTE:
“By linking power grids and digital networks across borders, we can lower costs, expand opportunity and bring reliable power and digital access to hundreds of millions of people.”
Masato Kanda, President, Asian Development Bank
