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Swati Dandekar, former Iowa state lawmaker, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate May 17, for the position of U.S. executive director at the Asian Development Bank, an ambassadorial rank position.
She was nominated by President Obama in November 2015.
“I am looking forward to going to Asia and focusing on renewable energy, clean water, infrastructure, women’s issues, and education,” Dandekar, 65, told News India Times. Dandekar is the past chair of the National Foundation for Women Legislators.
While a date is yet to be announced, Dandekar will take over her new position in Manila, Philippines, the headquarters of the ADB. The three-term Iowa state Representative (2002-2008) also served in the Iowa state Senate (2009-2011), before resigning to join the Iowa Utilities Board in 2011.
She said she feels well-equipped to deal with ADB’s portfolio. “My background in public policy and utilities equips me with the experience, and I do understand a few Asian languages,” which she is keen refurbish, Dandekar said. She served in several positions in education in her home state, starting as a school board member for Linn-Mar school in Iowa.
The ADB which was established in the 1960s, is a regional development bank with 67 member countries, 48 of them from Asia. The financial institution was established with a view to foster economic growth and cooperation in one of the poorest regions in the world, by extending loans. The ADB operations in 2015 totaled $27.17 billion. Its priority areas include energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, clean water, and education, transport and urban development, agriculture and food security, gender issues, and environment and climate change.
A BSc graduate from Nagpur University, Dandekar came to the U.S. 43 years ago with her husband, Arvind Dandekar, a businessman, who she told News India Times, would split his time between Iowa and Manila.
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