ADB Institute (ADBI)

Researchers discussed Asia’s policy imperatives for boosting gender-equitable economic recovery and shock resilience at an ADBI-Yale University conference in Tokyo on 9-10 March. Yale University’s Rohini Pande described COVID-19’s disproportionate impacts on women’s economic activities in India and how socio-cultural norms slow recovery for women. She stressed the importance of gender-sensitive measures for nurturing inclusive and resilient economies. Drawing on case studies and sector-based analysis, other researchers explored the female labor participation outlook, gender-related barriers, and drivers of equitable growth, including digitalization, social protection reform, child and elderly care enhancement, and gender quotas in political systems.

Ways to leverage digitalization to enhance social services delivery in emerging Asian economies were the focus of an ADBI policy maker workshop cohosted with the Asian Development Bank and the National Information Society Agency of the Republic of Korea in Seoul on 6-10 March. Drawing upon case studies, government officials and experts discussed the region’s digital outlook and the importance of policy coordination for accelerating digital services growth in developing countries. They also participated in field trips which highlighted examples of successful policy implementation.

Strategies to boost sustainable finance for accelerating Asia’s carbon net zero transition were explored during a virtual conference hosted by ADBI and the SOAS University of London Centre for Sustainable Finance on 6-8 March. The conference featured insights on transition-related financial risks and risk mitigation measures from Sean Kidney of the Climate Bonds Initiative, Eugene Wong of the Sustainable Finance Institute Asia, and Catherine McKenna of the UN Secretary General’s new High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities. Experts from the private sector, central banks, financial supervisory authorities, and international organizations examined public policy’s role in mobilizing private capital at scale in Asia. Other researchers discussed de-risking and blended finance mechanisms; sustainability-linked bonds and other financing instruments; ESG investment drivers; carbon-pricing; and just transition.

Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) vice president Wencai Zhang and ADBI experts led by Deputy Dean Seungju Baek discussed research and capacity priorities for advancing Asia’s sustainable development during a meeting at ADBI on 1 March. Zhang, a former vice president at the Asian Development Bank, described CEXIM’s country operations and noted the importance of ADBI’s research, capacity building, and outreach in areas such as debt sustainability, climate finance, infrastructure development, and supply chain resilience for sustainable and inclusive growth. Zhang and ADBI experts also explored opportunities for future CEXIM-ADBI collaboration.