IDB Asian member countries

IDB has three Asian member countries, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China.

Japan's entry as a member of the IDB in 1976 formalized its growing economic relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the continuation of social and cultural ties that date back to the start of Japanese emigration to the region in the late 19th century. Latin America now has the largest group of ethnic Japanese outside Japan itself, numbering over a million people.

The Republic of Korea became member of the IDB in March, 2005, and the People's Republic of China became member of the IDB in January, 2009 signaling the growing ties between the Latin American and Caribbean countries with Asia. Its entry into the IDB brought not only additional resources to the institution, but also new ideas on how to approach development issues, based on the Asian experience of investments in education and technology, promotion of small business, and emphasis on the expansion of trade.

Japanese, Korean and Chinese government representatives sit on the 48-member Board of Governors, the IDB's highest authority, which meets annually to make major policy decisions and review operations.

Japan represents on the 14-member Board of Executive Directors that, together with the Bank President, is responsible for IDB operations and administration.