The Asian Development Bank has announced a major $70 billion investment plan to expand energy and digital infrastructure across Asia and the Pacific by 2035. The initiative focuses on connecting regional power grids, boosting cross-border electricity trade, and improving broadband access, with the broader goal of enhancing economic growth, lowering costs, and expanding access to reliable energy and digital services for millions of people.
At the center of this effort are two flagship programmes: the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative and the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway. ADB President Masato Kanda emphasized that energy and digital connectivity will shape the region’s future by enabling countries to better integrate, compete, and benefit from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative aims to mobilize $50 billion by 2035 to build cross-border energy infrastructure, including transmission lines, substations, and storage systems. The plan also supports renewable energy projects and regional power hubs to facilitate electricity trade. By linking national grids into a broader regional network, the initiative seeks to integrate renewable energy at scale and improve efficiency across borders.
Through this energy initiative, ADB targets the integration of around 20 gigawatts of renewable energy, the construction of 22,000 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines, and improved energy access for approximately 200 million people. It is also expected to generate around 840,000 jobs and reduce power sector emissions in the region by 15 percent. Funding will come from a mix of ADB resources and cofinancing, supported by technical assistance to harmonize regulations and standards.
Complementing this, the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway will mobilize $20 billion to strengthen digital infrastructure and close connectivity gaps. Investments will focus on fiber-optic networks, satellite systems, and regional data centers, alongside policy support for cybersecurity and digital governance. The initiative also aims to prepare countries for AI-driven growth by building digital skills and infrastructure.
By 2035, the digital programme is expected to provide first-time internet access to 200 million people and improve connectivity for another 450 million. It aims to significantly reduce connectivity costs in remote areas and create around 4 million jobs. A new AI innovation center in Seoul, supported by the Republic of Korea, will play a key role in advancing digital skills and responsible AI adoption across the region.
Overall, the initiative reflects ADB’s broader mission to support sustainable and inclusive development through large-scale infrastructure investment and regional cooperation, leveraging partnerships with governments, private sector actors, and development institutions to address complex challenges and drive long-term growth.
