Global policymakers gathered in Tbilisi for the Asian Development Bank's Annual Meeting

CNBC is on the ground at the Asian Development Bank meeting in Tbilisi. This is the first time that this event has been hosted in Georgia and it brings together finance ministers, government officials and development experts from across Asia and the Pacific. The theme this year is tackling development challenges in a changing world, so the focus is on issues like climate change, regional connectivity and ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth. I spoke with the AD BS Climate Envoy Warren Evans to ask about the financing pipeline for the year ahead. Will continue to focus on both mitigation and adaptation. The reality is that the developing countries that we serve are suffering severe consequences of climate change and an increasing frequency and intensity. But we also have to focus on decarbonizing the region and and the world in order to avoid just more and more of the the climate disasters that we’re facing. The ADB plays a key role in financing development projects and providing technical assistance to its member countries. So this meeting is a chance for them to share ideas, collaborate and find solutions. I also spoke with chief Economist Albert Park to ask about the broader macroeconomic backdrop. Overall, we’re still pretty bullish on growth prospects for the region. Our most recent Asian Development outlook has forecast that growth will be 4.9% both this year and next year on the strength of still reasonably resilient growth in China and very robust growth in India of over 7% per year. In terms of things to watch out for, we have our eye on instability in the Middle East and other geopolitical tensions that could lead to for instance, commodity price shocks or the the Red Sea issues have led to higher shipping costs, which we’ve modeled and feel is contributing to inflation in the region. Slightly, not a huge amount but notable. We’re also worried about US Fed policy and whether. Interest rates will be higher for longer, and thinking about what that will mean for the region, it’s also a significant moment for Georgia, with officials here attempting to showcase a commitment to regional development in the face of significant unrest. Dan Murphy, CNBC in Tbilisi.