Guest Speaker Seminar
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概要報告
On July 1, 2024, GraSPP hosted a guest speaker seminar, “Contributing to development in Asia with professional integrity,” in conjunction with Case Study (Public-Private Partnerships). The seminar aimed to give students a dialogue opportunity with Mr. Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General and Group Chief of the Sectors Group of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Mr. Ramesh Subramaniam started his talk by sharing an impressive recollection of his school years when Prof. Amartya Sen, a Novel Prize laureate, inspired him with a work on “missing one million,” which was about female infanticide in China and India. He recalled recognizing societal bias and discrimination prompted him to think about many other issues related to labor struggles and led him to pursue a doctoral degree in development economics. He continued to present his personal reflections and insights, which contributed to development in Asia during his career since joining ADB as a young professional.
Reference: Presentation slides of Mr. Ramesh Subramaniam
Selected student reflections
“Mr. Ramesh Subramaniam shared his reflections and insights on development issues in Asia, drawing on his experience since joining the ADB in 1997. Furthermore, he conveyed the ADB’s aspirations as a regional and global leader in development expertise in Asia. During the exchange with participants, Mr. Subramaniam also discussed the importance of effective governance in driving sustainable development in Asia, emphasizing the role of transparent policies and strong institutions in fostering growth and stability.” Nurul Syaza Binti AZLISHA
“Dr. Subramaniam shared his extensive ADB experience, providing valuable insights and real-life examples of making difficult decisions in development work. He highlighted the critical roles multilateral development banks (MDBs), particularly ADB, play in improving lives. Emphasizing professional integrity in governance and the pivotal role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in regional development, his discussions on ADB’s strategic initiatives were inspiring. Dr. Subramaniam’s personal reflections underscored essential human values for effective development work. Overall, it was motivating to understand ADB’s contributions and the importance of integrity and collaboration in sustainable development.” GARUD Rahul Deelip
“I found the seminar very engaging as Mr. Ramesh Subramaniam spoke about ADB’s institutional development as an MDB and his journey and projects, which have contributed positively to the economic, social, and health sectors in the developing member countries (DMCs). As I plan to pursue a career in an MDB after I graduate, his experiences gave me more knowledge on what to expect when working in an MDB.” Amelia Dhiena Berliani
“I enjoyed the session by Director General Ramesh Subramaniam. He demonstrated an immense passion for his work and shared how the ADB worked to reduce poverty in Asia. The importance of professional integrity cannot be overstated, where corruption, unfortunately, can siphon away a significant portion of public funds. Every misdirected cent denies its intended recipient much-needed respite from hardship. Overall, it is important to do meaningful work and ensure high due diligence standards to achieve the best results.” TAN Jing Yu William
About the speaker
Ramesh Subramaniam has been with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) since April 1997. As Group Chief of the Sectors Group, he positions ADB as a regional and global leader in development expertise in ADB’s sectors of operations. He previously held senior-level positions in the Central and West Asia Department, the former Office of Regional Economic Integration (OREI), and the former Operations Services and Financial Management Department (OSFMD). Outside of ADB, he is a volunteer/coordinator at the school for about 170 children, infusing basic yet fundamental human values of Truth, Peace, Right Conduct, Non-violence, and Love in education.
About ADB’s Sectors Group
The Sectors Group is a single operational group comprising seven sector offices that aims to deliver sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in the region and with ADB’s clients. The Sectors Group delivers or supports the delivery of sovereign, non-sovereign, and advisory operations and knowledge services, supports regional departments (RD) and resident missions (RM) in engaging with Developing Member Countries (DMCs), and ensures ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.
