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More than 500 energy experts, policymakers, financiers, and project developers from across Asia-Pacific called for massive new investments in clean energy amid spiraling costs for oil and coal and the growing threat of climate change at the Asia Clean Energy Forum held at ADB’s headquarters in Manila from 3–5 June.

Even poor countries can afford basic social protection like financing health care, cash transfers to the poor, and elderly and child protection, according to the newly developed Social Protection Index (SPI) created by ADB and its partners.

High oil prices are already a concern in the Pacific region, but the recent surge in world food prices has yet to be fully felt in the Pacific, according to a new ADB study, “Living with High Prices.”

The world’s three largest lighting companies, Philips, OSRAM, and General Electric, recently signed a pact to establish standards for compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) in an effort to rid the Asian market of shoddy energy-saving lights. The accord, called the “Manila Compact,” was signed on the sidelines of the Asia Clean Energy Forum, sponsored by ADB and USAID.

The Government of Luxembourg is contributing an additional EUR184,543 (about $292,500) to the Financial Sector Development Partnership Fund, which supports efforts to strengthen regional, subregional, and national financial systems in Asia and the Pacific. This brings Luxembourg’s total commitments to the multi-donor fund to about $2.286 million.

• $1 Million Grant to PRC to Aid Emergency Relief Efforts for Earthquake Victims
  The technical assistance grant will assist in aid efforts following the devastating earthquake that struck the country’s Sichuan province in May.
• Helping India Expand Mobile Phone Coverage to Rural Areas
  A loan of up to $150 million to GTL Infrastructure Ltd., a leading telecommunication infrastructure provider in India, will help install 17,100 additional telecommunications towers.
• $100M Pilot Program in PRC's Guangdong Province to Promote Energy Efficiency
  A $100 million multi-tranche loan will be used to grant loans to major energy consumers, funding projects to retrofit plants and buildings with energy-efficient technology. See the project information.
• $11.3M Grant to Help Tonga Improve Urban Infrastructure
  The grant will facilitate fully integrated and coordinated urban planning in Tonga, particularly for Nuku’alofa, as urbanization and population growth fuel demand for better infrastructure. See the project information.

According to the update, severe floods, a cyclone, and low business confidence affected the economy during the first half of FY2008. But the economy rebounded in the second half with timely and effective measures by the Government to restore business confidence and boost agriculture production.

The euro’s path as an alternative international currency to the US dollar will benefit rapidly expanding emerging Asian economies, the region as a whole, and the world, said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda at the “Brussels Economic Forum 2008: Economic and Monetary Union in Europe: 10 Years On” in Brussels, Belgium on 15 May 2008.

Beijing Beefs Up Sewage Treatment
Before it could be engulfed by its own wastewater, Beijing knew it needed to build treatment plants for the sewage produced by its growing population. But the city government did not have the experience to deal with huge volumes of wastewater. Where could they turn for help?

• 2007 MIX Asia 100: Ranking of Microfinance Institutions
• Private Sector Finance: Catalyzing Private Investment in the Asia and Pacific Region
• Pacific Private Sector Policy Briefs
• The Railways of the PRC: An Agenda for Action
• ERD Working Paper 113: Do minimum wages reduce employment and training? [ PDF ]
• ADBI discussion paper: Standards and Agricultural Trade in Asia

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