Swati Dandekar, a former Iowa state legislator, has been nominated by President Barack Obama to be United States executive director with the Asian Development Bank.
Dandekar, 64, of Marion will hold the rank of ambassador. Her nomination will require confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
“I am honored to be nominated,” Dandekar said Friday. “I will do my best for Iowa and the United States, and make Iowans proud.
“When I work on the issues of energy and infrastructure in a given country, I’m going to work with that NGO (non-governmental organization) to make sure they understand what the United States is doing with them. I will work to ensure communication and transparency.”
The Asian Development Bank, with headquarters in Metro Manila, Philippines, was established in August 1966 to facilitate economic development in Asia. It is a regional development bank with 67 members, of which 48 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.
Dandekar’s nomination will be supported by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.