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Experts discuss women and technology at the 8th Annual Asia Pacific Financial Inclusion Forum
ADBI and the Foundation for Development Cooperation hosted the 8th Annual Asia Pacific Financial Inclusion Forum on 26–27 June. It was opened by Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor Loi Bakani, who highlighted challenges specific to the Pacific islands and urged participants to consider the importance of women in achieving financial inclusion. The meeting also discussed the role of technology, specifically blockchain and distributed ledger technology, in advancing financial inclusion in APEC countries. Distinguished participants included Bank of Papua New Guinea Assistant Governor Elison Pidik, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor S. M. Moniruzzaman, and Deputy Minister U Maung Maung Win of Myanmar’s Ministry of Planning and Finance.
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Authors’ workshop on water insecurity and sanitation book held in Singapore
Ten contributors to a book on water insecurity and sanitation in Asia met on 13–14 June 2018 at the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore (NUS). The authors, all from leading think tanks and research institutes in Asia and the Pacific, presented their preliminary works and findings and discussed the book’s thematic areas and general outline. ADBI Dean Naoyuki Yoshino and Eduardo Araral of LYKSPP-NUS provided feedback.
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Economic corridor development approach crucial to economic development and resilience
The economic corridor development (ECD) approach emphasizes the development of full-fledged economic corridors in Asia and is critical as intraregional trade in Asia increases. Stronger intraregional trade promoted by ECD not only contributes to economic growth but also offers a buffer against global trade risks and policy uncertainties, increasing economic resilience. These were some takeaways from the workshop on Economic Corridor Development for Competitive and Inclusive Asia, held on 9-11 July in Jakarta, Indonesia, organized in cooperation with ADB, the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center, and with support from the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
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Policy frameworks critical to improve infrastructure planning, implementation, and funding in the Pacific
Policy frameworks are critical to attract innovative financing measures to improve infrastructure planning, implementation mechanisms, and funding in the Pacific. This was concluded at Capacity Building in Green Infrastructure and Housing for Poverty Reduction in the Pacific Region, a workshop organized by ADBI and the Institute of Global Development UNSW at Nadi, Fiji on 25-27 June 2018. Over 20 government officials working in infrastructure development from 13 Pacific island countries and several global experts working in housing, disaster risk reduction, and green financing presented. ADBI Senior Economist and Special Advisor to the Dean Wawan Juswanto, UNSW Built Environment Dean Helen Lochhead, and the Fijian Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport David Kolitagane gave the opening remarks.
Asia Pathways Blog
- Japan’s Local Government Debt Control System
- What are the reasons behind the decrease in solar module prices?
- Sustainable funding schemes for the development of waste management projects in Asia
- High-speed rail investment: A butterfly effect for urban chaos
- Volatility linkages between energy and food prices
Events
- Overweight and Obesity in Asia and the Pacific
- Conference on Human Capital Development for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity
- Small Seminar: The Tohoku Earthquake and Its Impact on Firms' Financial Constraints
- ADBI–Bank of Thailand Conference on Innovative Finance for Future Growth
- Conference on Spillover Effects of High-Speed Rail and Quality of Life
Books
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Wealthy But Unhealthy: Overweight and Obesity in Asia and the Pacific: Trends, Costs, and Policies for Better Health
High rates of overweight and obesity in Asia and the Pacific seriously threaten people’s health and undermine the region’s prosperity.
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Mission Incomplete: Reflating Japan's Economy (second edition)
In April 2013 the Bank of Japan launched an unprecedented quantitative and qualitative monetary easing policy. It was thought that a 2% price stability target could be achieved within 2 years; 4 years on and we are still mission incomplete.
Latest
High rates of overweight and obesity in Asia and the Pacific seriously threaten people’s health and undermine the region’s prosperity. Wealthy But Unhealthy: Overweight and Obesity in Asia and the Pacific: Trends, Costs, and Policies for Better Health
To secure economic growth, the decline in government expenditure must exceed the increase in tax revenue.
Fiscal Policy Conditions for Government Budget Stability and Economic Recovery: Comparative Analysis of Japan and Greece
The Kyrgyz Republic first introduced financial inclusion in 2010 but income inequality remains substantial and access to financial services restricted.
Financial Inclusion, Financial Regulation, Financial Literacy, and Financial Education in the Kyrgyz Republic
Georgia is outperforming developing Eastern European and Central Asian countries in terms of access to finance but is very much behind in terms of usage of financial products and technologies.
Financial Inclusion, Financial Literacy, and Financial Education in Georgia
Money’s in the Mail Mum!
3 very practical ways countries can cut the costs of sending money overseas from migrant workers to their families back home.
Firms in the North remain unaccountable for the environmental costs of outsourcing; tight environmental regulations and international cooperation are needed to improve environmental conditions in outsourcing sites in the South.
International Outsourcing, Environmental Costs, and Welfare
Podcast
- Lessons from the Asian contagion helped the IMF tackle global financial crisis
- Australia, New Zealand have “green” policies but neither has reached its renewable-energy potential
- PRC may be about to repeat the financial mistakes of Japan in the 1980s
- Tighter immigration rules threaten India’s IT talent exports
