The Asian Development Bank announced Scott Roberts as its new Vietnam country director on October 16, VnExpress reported. He will represent the bank in policy dialogue and partnerships and oversee implementation of its country partnership strategy.
Roberts, a US national, has more than 27 years of experience in international development, including 16 years at ADB. The wider career total should therefore be distinguished from his time at the bank itself.
Regional energy experience
Before taking the Vietnam role, Roberts headed ADB's ASEAN power-grid and special-fund unit. That position involved coordinating a $10 billion investment objective to strengthen Southeast Asian regional connectivity. The figure relates to his earlier regional responsibilities, rather than a newly approved financing package specifically for Vietnam.
He holds a master's degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before joining ADB, he established Cambridge Energy Research Associates' Beijing branch and served as a GE Capital vice president responsible for energy investment.
Country partnership priorities
ADB's Vietnam strategy focuses on green and inclusive growth, stronger resilience to natural disasters and a more competitive economy led by the private sector, according to the report. The country director's responsibilities bring those priorities into policy engagement and development partnerships.
Roberts committed to continued support through infrastructure financing, innovation and mobilisation of private capital. These statements outline the bank's priorities under the new appointment. The report did not specify a new loan package, disbursement timetable or individual project approved alongside the personnel announcement.