(10 November 2026 – Laos) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Jingmin Huang as its Country Director for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the Lao PDR). She started the role in Vientiane yesterday.
Ms. Huang will lead ADB’s resident mission in Vientiane and oversee operations, policy dialogue, and partnerships. She will guide the implementation of ADB’s country partnership strategy which focuses on sustainable public finance, equitable access to services, and resilience to disasters and extreme weather events. Working closely with the government, development partners, private sector, and civil society, she will build on strong foundations for high-quality investments and inclusive, sustainable economic growth.
“I am honored to serve in the Lao PDR at this important stage of its development,” said Ms. Huang. “The coming years will be critical as the country pursues ambitious goals to transition smoothly from least developed country status, strengthen economic self-reliance, and advance inclusive, sustainable development. I look forward to leading ADB’s support and delivering lasting benefits for the communities across the country.”
Ms. Huang brings more than 30 years of professional experience, including over 18 years with ADB, spanning country programming, sector strategy, project processing and implementation, portfolio management, and client engagement across multiple regions. She joined ADB in 2008 and became director of the water and urban division in the Pacific department in 2019. Prior to this new appointment, she was director of the water and urban development sector cluster, leading operations across Central, West, and East Asia and overseeing a $5 billion portfolio and investment pipeline. Before joining ADB, she was a Fellow of St Hugh’s College and a lecturer in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford.
Ms. Huang is a national of the PRC and holds a doctorate in water science from the University of Oxford and dual bachelor’s degrees in environmental engineering and industrial economics from Tianjin University in the PRC.
ADB is a longstanding partner of the Lao PDR and ASEAN. As the region’s main bank, ADB supports investments that contribute to the Lao PDR’s 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2026–2030, enhancing the country’s efforts to build a more diversified, self-reliant, and sustainable economy.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.