Opportunity to invest in developing world

Ireland is the newest member of the Asian Development Bank and despite austerity and hardship last year contributed $27m (€20m) to help fund facilities in developing countries.

But very few know about the bank and fewer still have availed of the opportunities it offers Irish businesses through bidding for work and procurement activities in a region where investment rates averaged 35% of GDP.

Companies with experience of working in the developing world, as many Irish have in Africa and eastern Europe, should not find it too difficult to realise opportunities in the region that is the fastest growing globally, says Stephen Groff, vice president of the bank.