Post-event statement
Over 140 policy makers and thinkers from more than 90 organizations in over 40 countries came together to discuss the theme Achieving Balanced Growth in Asia and the World for Sustainable Development: The Role of Think Tanks at the Global Think Tank Summit 2017 in Yokohama, Japan, 1–3 May 2017. Organized by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program of the University of Pennsylvania (TTCSP), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) the summit was held right before the 50th Annual Meeting of ADB.
Highlights included keynote speeches by Yokohama City Mayor Fumiko Hayashi and Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, as well as numerous panel discussions, including one with ADB President Takehiko Nakao. Attendees discussed a broad range of subjects such as challenges to globalization, inclusive economic growth, poverty and inequality, and think tanks and civil society in the age of populism. They agreed that think tanks play a key role in civil society and should engage more with the public and foster more inclusive debate. They argued that think tanks can provide impartial viewpoints in contemporary political debates, help society navigate this period of global uncertainty, and pay greater attention to issues of social equity.
"To whom and how to disseminate the research of think tanks is critical,” ADBI Dean Naoyuki Yoshino said. To address income inequality, he stressed the importance of taxation reform, financial inclusiveness such as in SME finance, and education.
Background
The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the University of Pennsylvania will be holding the Global Think Tank Summit 2017 in Yokohama, Japan on 1-3 May 2017. Taking place back-to-back with the Asian Development Bank's 50th Annual Meeting (4-7 May 2017), the Global Think Tank Summit 2017 is expected to attract over 100 think tank officials from over 80 organizations in more than 60 countries. Provisional speaker list includes Haruhiko Kuroda (Governor, Bank of Japan), Fumiko Hayashi (Mayor, Yokohama City), Muhammad Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Founder of Grameen Bank; Yunus Centre), Takehiko Nakao (President, Asian Development Bank), Naoyuki Yoshino (Dean, Asian Development Bank Institute; Professor, Keio University), and James McGann (Director, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, The Lauder Institute, University Pennsylvania).
Objectives
Policy dialogue among high-level policy-makers and think tank officials on crucial issues.
Participants
Over 100 policy-makers and think tank representatives from over 80 organizations in more than 60 countries.
Output
- The event is expected to attract a significant amount of public and media attention to the ADBI and its partner organizations.
- The event will generate papers and policy briefs.
How to register
By invitation only.
Language
English
Partners
Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the University of Pennsylvania
Time of event
Day 1: 09:00 - 18:00
Day 2: 08:30 - 16:00