Asia Regional Integration Center

Nadya Daulay is a Research Assistant in the Climate Policy Unit. Prior to that, she was an intern in the Disaster Management Research Unit. She officially joined CSIS in September 2022 upon completing her bachelor’s degree in Public Health at the State Islamic University of Jakarta. She has experience in quantitative and spatial analyses due to her concentration in Biostatistics and Health Informatics during university. Upon joining CSIS, Nadya has been involved in projects about climate policy, disaster risk reduction, ESG, green economy, and health data governance.

Thomas AM Djiwandono completed his Bachelor of Arts in History at Haverford College, USA, in 1994. In 2003, he earned his MA in International Relations and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University, USA.

He began his career as an internal journalist at Tempo Magazine in 1993. In 1994, he joined Indonesia Business Weekly as a journalist. From 1996 to 1999, he continued his career as a financial analyst at NatWest Market, Jakarta. He worked as a consultant at Castle Asia from 1999 to 2000.

In 2004, he joined Comexindo International, holding positions as Director of Business Development (20042008), Deputy CEO (2008-2009), and CEO from 2010 to 2024. He also served as Deputy CEO of Arsari Group from 2011 to 2024.

Since 2008, he has served as the General Treasurer of Gerindra Party.

Based on Presidential Decree No. 45/M of 2024, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, appointed Thomas AM Djiwandono as Deputy Minister of Finance in the Indonesia Maju Cabinet on July 18, 2024.

Jong Woo Kang is Director of Regional Cooperation and Integration Division at the Economic Research and Development Impact Department (ERDI) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). As director, he plays a role as an interface between ADB’s internal and external stakeholders on regional cooperation and integration. He is a seasoned economist with extensive knowledge and experiences on policy and strategic issues. He was Principal Economist at ERDI, Senior Advisor to the Managing Director General of ADB, and Senior Economist at the Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships Department at ADB. He leads the annual publication of Asian Economic Integration Report. Areas of his research interest include regional integration, inclusive growth, macroeconomic policies, international trade and finance, and aid effectiveness. He published articles in economics journals such as Journal of Development Economics, Journal of Applied Economics, and Journal of World Trade. Before joining ADB, he was director at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Republic of Korea until 2006. He had got his bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s in public administration from Seoul National University, and PhD in economics from University of Washington.

Abdul Abiad is Director of the Macroeconomic Research Division at the Asian Development Bank in Manila, where he oversees the ADB’s flagship publication, the Asian Development Outlook. From 2000 to 2015, he was with the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, where he worked on the World Economic Outlook. His research has focused on financial sector development and international financial integration, fiscal policy, exchange rates and trade, economic resilience, and infrastructure. A Philippine national, he has a BS in Mathematics from the University of the Philippines and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Reza leads the IRM Team in providing analyses and assessments of economic development in Indonesia and contributing to economic, sector and thematic work for ADB’s operations, including to ADB’s knowledge work in Indonesia. Before joining ADB he had worked for Bank Indonesia (the Central Bank). He has a PhD in Economics from Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti often called ’Winny’ is currently serving as Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs, at the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas of the Republic of Indonesia. She was appointed as Deputy Minister in December 2020, after her assignment as Senior Advisor to the Minister of National Development Planning for Economy and Financing at the same institution. She started her career at the Ministry in 1999. She has experienced in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the head of SDGs National Secretariate in 2018-2020, and she is now assigned as the vice chair of SDGs National team. Her strong interests are in the areas of macroeconomics, international economics, trade and economic development, as well as economic modelling and impact analysis.

Aleli is a Senior Economics Officer with the Economics and Research Division. She has over 18 years of experience working on various projects and research on topics such as regional integration and cooperation, trade, facilitation, tourism, macroeconomics, and development indicators. Prior to working with ADB, she worked at the National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines handling social development planning and projects on education, vulnerable groups, and housing. She finished her Bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Master’s degree in Economics at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Jong Woo Kang is Director of Regional Cooperation and Integration Division at the Economic Research and Development Impact Department (ERDI) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). As director, he plays a role as an interface between ADB’s internal and external stakeholders on regional cooperation and integration. He is a seasoned economist with extensive knowledge and experiences on policy and strategic issues. He was Principal Economist at ERDI, Senior Advisor to the Managing Director General of ADB, and Senior Economist at the Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships Department at ADB. He leads the annual publication of Asian Economic Integration Report. Areas of his research interest include regional integration, inclusive growth, macroeconomic policies, international trade and finance, and aid effectiveness. He published articles in economics journals such as Journal of Development Economics, Journal of Applied Economics, and Journal of World Trade. Before joining ADB, he was director at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Republic of Korea until 2006. He had got his bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s in public administration from Seoul National University, and PhD in economics from University of Washington.

Sanchita Basu-Das is an economist at the Regional Cooperation and Integration Division of the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department of ADB. She contributes to the division’s flagship publication, namely the Asian Economic Integration Report, and other knowledge products. She also supports the ASEAN regional forum. Her core research interests include regional cooperation and initiatives related to them, such as trade, logistics, industrial corridors, tourism, digital economy, institutions, and others. Sanchita joined ADB in November 2018 and served as an economist in the South Asia Regional Department, processing loans/grants, implementing technical assistance projects and leading operationally relevant analytical studies.

Prior to joining ADB, Sanchita was the lead researcher for economic affairs at the ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEASYusof Ishak Institute, Singapore. She was concurrently a fellow of the Regional Economic Studies Program, coordinator of Singapore APEC Studies Centre and a co-editor of Journal of Southeast Asian Economies (JSEAE), all housed under the same institute. Sanchita has published in international journals including the Singapore Economic Review, Journal of World Trade and Asia Pacific Economic Literature, authored/edited books and book chapters, and wrote for media. Sanchita earned her PhD in international political economy from Nanyang Technology University, Singapore, and her masters in economics and business management from the University of Delhi and the National University of Singapore, respectively.

Jonathan leads the organization’s digital transformation projects and research in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. He also leads projects focused on digital identity and digital public infrastructure in Thailand, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands. He previously led activities in more than 20 countries, mostly in Asia, under the World Bank's Identification for Development (ID4D) initiative for 7 years, while based in Singapore, Bangkok, and Washington DC. Jonathan joined the World Bank in 2016, bringing with him experience from previous positions with ESCAP, UNHCR, UNICEF, and IOM.

Virgi Agita Sari is currently a Fellow at the Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science and an incoming Assistant Professor in International Development at the University of Bath. As a development economist, her research sits at the intersection of development economics, welfare policies, and policy evaluation. Her work primarily focuses on the nexus between poverty and inequality in developing countries, with a particular emphasis on assessing the distributional impacts of pandemics and climate change, as well as effectiveness of government social policy. Virgi holds a PhD in Development Economics and Policy from the University of Manchester and has collaborated with governments, think tanks, and the World Bank, to assess the effectiveness of social policies in developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia.

James Villafuerte is the Regional Lead Economist in the Southeast Asia Department of the ADB. He heads the ASEAN Policy Network and conducts research on a wide range of economic and policy issues, including: i) regional economic surveillance; ii) economic impact assessment of COVID-19; and iii) thematic research on trade and supply chain, technology and digitalization, infrastructure financing, and climate change, among others. Prior to Joining ADB, he was the Team Leader of the Asia Regional Integration Center of the ADB, a Senior Economist at the Department of Treasury and Finance in Victoria, and an Economist of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) Team of World Bank Office in Manila. He holds a Masteral Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines, completed research internship at the East-West Center in Hawaii, and attended several CGE modelling courses in Monash and Purdue University.

Saon Ray is an economist with expertise in industry and international trade. Her research focuses on three main areas: international trade and industry, low carbon growth, and financial inclusion. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she studied the impact of intellectual property rights on technology transfer to developing countries. Her most recent book, “Global Cooperation and G20: Role of the Finance Track,” was published in 2023. She is also the author of "Global Value Chains and the Missing Link: Cases from Indian Industry" published by Routledge in 2018. She also edited "Low Carbon Pathways for Growth in India" published by Springer in 2018. Professor Ray is currently a Visiting Professor at ICRIER in New Delhi.

Prabhjot Khan is a Senior Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development) at the ADB with more than twenty years of experience in gender equality and social development. She has worked extensively on policy advocacy, promoting policies and initiatives aimed at advancing gender equality and addressing issues related to gender discrimination, bias, and inequality. She has wide-ranging experience of gender mainstreaming in infrastructure (transport, energy, urban, water) and social (health, social protection, education, skill development) sectors. Prabhjot joined ADB in 2012 and before that she worked with UN Agencies and with civil society organizations supporting programs on advancement of women. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Science from Nagpur University, India (2003).

Donghyun Park, Economic Advisor (Strategic Knowledge Initiatives), ADB Office of the Chief Economist and Director General, Economic Research and Development Impact Department.

Prior to joining ADB in 2007, he was a tenured associate professor of economics at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He has a PhD in economics from UCLA in the US, and his main research fields are international finance, international trade, and development economics. His research, which has been published extensively in journals and books, revolves around policy-oriented topics relevant to Asia’s long-term development, including innovation, entrepreneurship, and green finance. Dr. Park plays a leading role in the production of Asian Development Outlook and Asia Bond Monitor, two major ADB flagship publications.

Shandre Mugan Thangavelu is the Head of the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University. He is also the Trade Advisor to the Minister of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce, Kingdom of Cambodia. For his contribution to Cambodia’s trade and development, Professor Shandre was awarded the Royal Order of Sowathara Commander. Before his appointment at the Institute, he was a Regional Director at Centre for International Economic Studies at the Institute of International Trade and the Director of the Asia Growth Research Centre at the University of Adelaide. He is an active researcher on human capital development, technology transfer, foreign direct investment, trade, government infrastructure investment, productivity and economic growth.

He has written extensively on ASEAN integration, FDI, human capital development, technology transfer and economic growth and has published his research in major international journals. He has written several books on trade, investment, integration and outsourcing in Asia. He has also worked on several international projects commissioned by UNDP, World Bank, ASEAN Secretariat, APEC, and Asian Productivity Organization (APO).

Padmaja Mundakkad is Assistant Professor of Economics in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. She received her Ph.D degree in Economics from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. She has received her Master’s degree in Economics from University of Calicut. Her research interests includes International Economics, Applied Econometrics, Foreign Direct Investment, and Industrial Economics. She has authored research papers on the above mentioned research areas in journals such as Journal of Quantitative Economics and Asian Development Review etc. She has also presented her research work in conferences of national and international repute.

Rupa Chanda is the Director of Trade, Investment, and Innovation at UN ESCAP. Earlier, she worked as a Professor of Economics at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and was an Economist at the IMF in Washington, DC. She holds a PhD from Columbia University and BA from Harvard University. Her research interests include the WTO, international trade in services, regional integration, health services, and migration. She has served on national and international committees and advisory boards in these areas and has undertaken research for several international organizations and think tanks, including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), OECD, European Commission, World Bank and ICRIER. She has published extensively in the form of authored and edited books, journal articles, book chapters, reports, and popular media articles. She frequently presents in national and international forums.

Tianhao Liu is a Senior Manager at SunSevenStars Investment Group. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Boston University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Rutgers University. With expertise in distributed financial infrastructure and securities registration, custody, and clearing, Mr. Liu is recognized as a FinTech technical expert chartered by Beijing Fintech Industry Alliance and endorsed by the People’s Bank of China. His professional experience includes roles as a Guest Lecturer at Sias University in FinTech, a senior expert at the blockchain research center of iSoftStone, a senior analyst at STACS Institute of Digital Economy, a research assistant at Boston University, etc.

His notable publications include “Bond Custody System and Opening-Up” published by International Finance, “The Dilemma and Breakthrough of the Platform Economy” published by Caijing Magazine, “Building a New Distributed International Central Securities Depository Mechanism” published by Bond Magazine, “Core Elements and Realization Path of the Digital Economy” published by the Beijing Fintech Industry Alliance, and “Blockchain Empowering the Digitalization of the Bond Market” as part of the NAFMII research plan. Additionally, he has coauthored the book “Blockchain in China.”

Tengfei Wang joined the United Nations ESCAP as an Economic Affairs Officer in 2008. Since then, he has been working on the areas related to trade and transport facilitation, digital economy, technology and innovation. Currently, his work is mainly focused on implementing the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific, providing advice to governments and undertaking studies on topics pertinent to trade facilitation, paperless trade and digital economy.

In his career, he drafted many UN legislative documents, guidebooks and reports. Furthermore, he publishes extensively in peer-review academic journals on trade, logistics and digital economy. His publications have been cited over 4,000 times. He earned his PhD from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and was the winner of 'Palgrave Macmillan' global PhD thesis competition (2002-2005).

Mark Carmelo R. Manguera is a researcher engaged in evidence-based policymaking with experience in the legislative and executive branches of government. Prior to his current role as a Supervising Legislative Staff Officer II at the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives, he served as a Senior Trade-Industry Development Specialist at the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group and Competitiveness and Innovation Group of the Department of Trade and Industry. His research interests include development, trade, investments, and industrial policy. Mr. Manguera obtained his Master’s degree in Development Economics and Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Sanchita Basu-Das is an economist at the Regional Cooperation and Integration Division of the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department of ADB. She contributes to the division’s flagship publication, namely the Asian Economic Integration Report, and other knowledge products. She also supports the ASEAN regional forum. Her core research interests include regional cooperation and initiatives related to them, such as trade, logistics, industrial corridors, tourism, digital economy, institutions, and others. Sanchita joined ADB in November 2018 and served as an economist in the South Asia Regional Department, processing loans/grants, implementing technical assistance projects and leading operationally relevant analytical studies.

Prior to joining ADB, Sanchita was the lead researcher for economic affairs at the ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEASYusof Ishak Institute, Singapore. She was concurrently a fellow of the Regional Economic Studies Program, coordinator of Singapore APEC Studies Centre and a co-editor of Journal of Southeast Asian Economies (JSEAE), all housed under the same institute. Sanchita has published in international journals including the Singapore Economic Review, Journal of World Trade and Asia Pacific Economic Literature, authored/edited books and book chapters, and wrote for media. Sanchita earned her PhD in international political economy from Nanyang Technology University, Singapore, and her masters in economics and business management from the University of Delhi and the National University of Singapore, respectively.

Tetsushi Sonobe is the Dean and CEO of the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Tokyo-based think tank of the Asian Development Bank that promotes the realization of a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific through policy research and capacity building.

Born in 1960 in Tokyo, Dean Sonobe obtained his PhD in economics from Yale University and BA in economics from the University of Tokyo. His research interests are centered on the empirics of economic development, particularly the roles of industrial clusters, human capital, social capital, management practices, and market competition in industrial development in developing Asia and other regions.

Before joining ADBI in April 2020, Dean Sonobe served for six years as a vice president of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo and taught economics for thirty years at Tokyo Metropolitan University and GRIPS. Dean Sonobe is a recipient of the Nikkei Book Publication Prize and the Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Prize, and a founding board member of the Japanese Association for Development Economics.

Jong Woo Kang is Director of Regional Cooperation and Integration Division at the Economic Research and Development Impact Department (ERDI) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). As director, he plays a role as an interface between ADB’s internal and external stakeholders on regional cooperation and integration. He is a seasoned economist with extensive knowledge and experiences on policy and strategic issues. He was Principal Economist at ERDI, Senior Advisor to the Managing Director General of ADB, and Senior Economist at the Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships Department at ADB. He leads the annual publication of Asian Economic Integration Report. Areas of his research interest include regional integration, inclusive growth, macroeconomic policies, international trade and finance, and aid effectiveness. He published articles in economics journals such as Journal of Development Economics, Journal of Applied Economics, and Journal of World Trade. Before joining ADB, he was director at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Republic of Korea until 2006. He had got his bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s in public administration from Seoul National University, and PhD in economics from University of Washington.

Shinta Widjaja Kamdani is a prominent Indonesian businesswoman and the CEO of the Sintesa Group, which operates in various sectors including property, energy, industrial products, and consumer products. She is also the first female Chairwoman of the Indonesian Employees Association (APINDO), having been appointed in 2023.

In addition to her role at APINDO, Shinta is actively involved in numerous business and social initiatives. She serves as the Vice Chairwoman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia) and is the President of the Indonesia Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD). She is also a member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Indonesia.

Her leadership style is characterized by her commitment to serving and working alongside her employees, embodying what she calls “serving leadership”. She has been recognized for her contributions to business and society, receiving multiple awards including being named one of Forbes Asia’s 50 Powerful Businesswoman.

Wisnu Harto Adiwijoyo is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Göttingen, focusing on the impacts of globalization on food consumption and nutrition. He holds a Master’s degree in International Development Economics from the Australian National University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Indonesia. Wisnu has extensive experience as an economist and data analyst, having worked with institutions such as the World Bank, J-PAL, and Prospera Indonesia. His research interests include development economics, education, labor economics, and poverty reduction.

Yoonee Jeong is a Senior Digital Technology Specialist with the Digital Technology for Development Division at ADB. She is a public policy professional with nearly 20 years of international experience in digital technologies in Asia Pacific and Africa.

Before joining ADB, Yoonee was the Director of Public and Regulatory Affairs with the Telenor Group, a global mobile operator. Previously, Yoonee served as a senior consultant on digital economy policy and capacity building to the World Bank and UN-ESCAP and lead policy advocacy for tech companies as Director of Research and Consulting with TRPC, an advisory firm. A Korean native, Yoonee obtained her Master's degree in International Development Policy from Duke University as a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Scholar and her bachelor's from the Ateneo de Manila University of the Philippines.

Trang Thi Pham is a PhD fellow in innovation and development economics with dual affiliations at UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Her main research interests include innovation diffusion and governance of innovation and technological change for development. Her PhD thesis focuses on the impacts of mobile internet connections on socio-economic issues, particularly household income, employment, education, and youth’s human capital for developing countries context. The PhD project aims to be a part of global efforts in addressing SDGs 3, 4, 8, and 9. Trang has visited UNU-WIDER in 2023 under the visiting PhD fellowship, and CINPE, National University of Costa Rica in 2024 under European Commission’ Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions Catching up along the Global Value Chain (CatChain). Before joining UNU-MERIT, Trang has working experiences in academia, consultancy, and public policy in Viet Nam and Singapore.

Rose Sagun is an Education Specialist at the Education Practice Team, Sector Group, Asian Development Bank. Before joining ADB, she worked at the Education Commission in Washington D.C., which was co-convened by the former Director-General of UNESCO and the UN Special Envoy for Global Education. She has worked on adaptive, personalized learning; digital learning/EdTech initiatives; and studying the interface between technology and human interaction, learning, and pedagogy. She served as the Co-Chair of Harvard Alumni for Education- San Francisco Bay Area chapter. She holds a Master’s degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University.

Lakmini Fernando is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka. Her primary research interests are Public Finance, Climate Change and Labour Markets. She has expertise in econometric data analysis, research design and causal methodologies. She is conversant in development policy formulation and public investment planning at national and sectoral level. Lakmini holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Adelaide, Australia and a Master of Development Economics (Advanced) from the University of Queensland, Australia.

Rashesh Shrestha is an Economist with research interests in labor markets, economic development, and human capital investment. At ERIA, he conducts academic research and leads policy-oriented research projects on a wide range of themes including human capital, labor markets, education, global value chains, trade facilitation, regulatory management system, and financial inclusion.

Daniel Suryadarma conducts applied economics research in the areas of education, labor, poverty, and social policy. His work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, such as American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, and Journal of Development Economics. His research has informed policy discussions at the Indonesian Vice President’s Office, Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, and various international organizations and donor agencies.

Prior to joining ADBI, Daniel was the deputy team leader of the Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE) Programme in Indonesia and a senior research fellow at the SMERU Research Institute in Jakarta. He was previously a research fellow at the Australian National University and led the impact evaluation unit at the Center for International Forestry Research.

Daniel has economics degrees from Brandon University, the University of Toronto, and the Australian National University

Rudiantara was formerly the Minister of Communication and Information of the Republic of Indonesia (2014-2019). He had been a commissioner and director of private/SOE companies such as Indosat Tbk, Telkomsel, XL Axiata Tbk, and Telkom Tbk. In addition, Rudiantara was also Deputy President Director of Semen Gresik Tbk and Deputy President Director of State Electricity Company (PLN). Currently, besides being the President Commissioner of Semen Indonesia Tbk, Commissioner of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Tbk, Commissioner of Vale Indonesia Tbk, President Commissioner of Rukun Raharja Tbk, President Commissioner of Digital Synergy Solutions Tbk, Rudiantara is also the President Commissioner of Amartha Nusantara Raya and active in several non-profit organizations. He began his higher education at Padjadjaran University majoring in Statistics and continued his studies at the PPM School of Management, earning an MBA in 1988. Rudiantara’s work in industry and government has contributed to the progress of development in Indonesia.

Ketan Kumar Reddy is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Indian Institute of Management Raipur. He has done his Post-doctoral research at King’s College London and obtained his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. His research examines questions related to firm performance, innovation, firm survival in global markets, and the rising role of new technology in the form of digitalization, automation, and Industry 4.0 on firm dynamics from a trade perspective. He has published in journals like Technological Forecasting & Social Change, Small Business Economics, World Economy, International Review of Economics & Finance, Global Finance Journal, Information Economics & Policy, Journal of Economics and Business, and Economic & Political Weekly among others. He also collaborated with leading think tanks such as the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.

Ibrahim Kholilul Rohman is presently serving as a Senior Research Associate at Indonesia Financial Group Progress (IFG Progress). His primary focus lies in conducting comprehensive research on the role and impact of digitalization withing the financial sector, with a specific emphasis on insurance and pension funds. Before his current role, he held the esteemed position of Chief Economist at Samudera Indonesia, one of Indonesia’s oldest and leading shipping companies. During his tenure, he gained invaluable experience working in various capacities.

With an illustrious career, he excelled as a research fellow at the United Nations University- Operating Unit on Policy Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) in Guimaraes, Portugal, where he played a pivotal role in assessing the influence of electronic governance on country competitiveness. Additionally, he made significant contribution as a research fellow at JRC Directorate Growth and Innovation- European Commission, spearheading a critical project analyzing the competitiveness of the EU’s ICT sectors and their research and development activities. The findings of this project served as a crucial input for the prestigious Europe’s Digital Progress Report (EDPR).

In academic domain, he imparts his expertise in Digital Economics at the undergraduate program of the esteemed Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Indonesia. He earned his PhD in 2012 from Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, specializing in Technology Management and Economics. Complementing his doctoral degree, he holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Economics from the esteemed University of Indonesia.

He is a prolific writer and though leader, having published numerous articles on Telecommunications Policy and Science and Public Policy. His insightful op-ed contributions, exceeding 30 articles, have been featured in the Jakarta Post, covering diverse topics within the realm of digital economy, information and communications technology (ICT), and transportation.

Prohim Tam received a B.S. degree in Management of Information Systems from Paragon International University, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2019. He earned a combined Master’s and Ph.D. degree in Software Convergence from Soonchunhyang University, Asan, South Korea, in 2024. Currently, he is an adjunct faculty member with the School of Digital Technologies at the American University of Phnom Penh. His research interests include 5G and beyond networks, privacy-preserving learning, network virtualization, quality of service, and policy optimization

ByeongJo (Jo) Kong is responsible for supporting DMC governments in developing and implementing data analytics and big data initiatives in development projects. Prior to joining ADB, Jo worked as a Machine Learning Engineer for AI startups in the US and Republic of Korea, and as a research member at MIT Computer Science and AI Lab for over 3 years. He also worked for UN-APCICT/ESCAP for 8 years, supporting ICT capacity building initiatives in the Asia Pacific region. Jo holds a dual master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) and Engineering Management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA and a dual bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and Global Management from Kyunghee University, Korea.

Medelina K. Hendytio is currently Deputy Executive Director of CSIS. She is also a researcher at the Department of Politics and Social Changes, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta since 1985. Her research areas cover: Administrative Development, Bureaucratic Reform, Education, and Gender Studies. With more than 20 years experience in social research, she had been involved in various research including Innovative Teaching and Learning Research, Empowering Civil Society Group to Promote Participatory Governance and Mapping Policies and Programs of Maternal Mortality Rate in Indonesia. She has also more than 10 years consulting experience in international donor-funded projects with a focus on governance, gender, as well for conducting monitoring and evaluation.

Medelina K. Hendytio received her bachelor degree at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Diponegoro in 1984. She took one year course on social and political science at Yayasan Padi Kapas, Jakarta. She obtained her masters degree in Development Administration from the National Centre for Development Studies, Australian National University, Canberra.

She attended Advanced International Training on Equal Status and Human Rights of Women in Lund University, Sweden. She was awarded British Chevening Award in 1999 and participated in Certificate Course in Gender Policy and Planning, Development Planning Unit in University College London, UK. She obtained her doctoral degree at the Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Political and Social Science, University of Indonesia in 2008. Her doctoral research concern the recruitment process of the Government Civil Servant with particular attention on utilizing scenario planning for implementing reform agenda.

Tengfei Wang joined the United Nations ESCAP as an Economic Affairs Officer in 2008. Since then, he has been working on the areas related to trade and transport facilitation, digital economy, technology and innovation. Currently, his work is mainly focused on implementing the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific, providing advice to governments and undertaking studies on topics pertinent to trade facilitation, paperless trade and digital economy.

In his career, he drafted many UN legislative documents, guidebooks and reports. Furthermore, he publishes extensively in peer-review academic journals on trade, logistics and digital economy. His publications have been cited over 4,000 times. He earned his PhD from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and was the winner of 'Palgrave Macmillan' global PhD thesis competition (2002-2005).

Dandy Rafitrandi is a researcher in Department of Economics. He spent two years working as research assistant at CSIS before joining the team for projects such as Free Trade Area in Indonesia, ASEAN Economic Community, logistic industry and SME survey.

He received his BA in Economics from Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia in 2012. In 2016, he gained his MSc in Policy Economics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has special interest in international economics, trade policy and development issues.

Donghyun Park, Economic Advisor (Strategic Knowledge Initiatives), ADB Office of the Chief Economist and Director General, Economic Research and Development Impact Department.

Prior to joining ADB in 2007, he was a tenured associate professor of economics at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He has a PhD in economics from UCLA in the US, and his main research fields are international finance, international trade, and development economics. His research, which has been published extensively in journals and books, revolves around policy-oriented topics relevant to Asia’s long-term development, including innovation, entrepreneurship, and green finance. Dr. Park plays a leading role in the production of Asian Development Outlook and Asia Bond Monitor, two major ADB flagship publications.

James Correia is a Research, Capacity Building and Training Associate at the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). In parallel, he is currently pursuing his PhD in Global Environmental Governance and International Climate Policy at the University of Tokyo. He has more than eight years of experience across a range of posts in the New Zealand Government in Wellington and Brussels, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in London, the European Union (EU) in Brussels, and Trinity College Dublin. James holds a Masters of Public Policy (MPP) from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics and International Studies from the University of Melbourne, and executive certificates on Law and Sustainability from Oxford University and Migration Policy the European University Institute.

Dr. Dee served as the Head of Capacity Building & Education/Lead-in Regulation and Policy at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), University of Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS) from 2020-2024. This included the innovative global online Cambridge Fintech & Regulatory Innovation (CFTRI) education programme, which has been successfully delivered to over 1600 financial regulators and policymakers from over 315 institutions in 145 countries. She remains a Research Affiliate at the CCAF. She is also a Senior Fintech and Financial Innovation Lecturer at Teesside University and leads their Doctor of Business Administration program. Dr. Dee has over 20 years of experience and expertise across law, business, and academia. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and an LLB and LLM from SOAS University of London.

Karaniya Dharmasaputra is a prominent figure in Indonesia’s fintech industry, currently serving as the President Director of OVO, the fintech arm of Grab Indonesia. Under his leadership, OVO has expanded its services from payment solutions to investment and lending platforms, playing a significant role in advancing Indonesia’s digital economy. In addition to his role at OVO, Karaniya co-founded Bareksa, Indonesia’s first integrated mutual fund marketplace, which now offers over 200 investment products. His passion for the financial sector also led him to form the Indonesia Fintech Society, further underscoring his commitment to driving fintech innovation in the country. Pak Karaniya holds a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University and a Bachelors in Political Science from Gadjah Mada University.

Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås is a Senior Associate with CEP. She also holds a position as visiting professor at Örebro University in Sweden and research professor at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) in Norway. Prior to that she was leading the OECD’s work on services trade policy analysis, developing the Services Trade Restrictiveness Indices and database and related analytical activities (2005-2019). She also spent two years at the research department at the WTO (2002-2004). Hildegunn holds a PhD in economics from the University of Bergen, Norway. Her research interest lies at the interface between digital technology, services trade, and jobs in the services sectors; areas where she has published extensively.

Irwanda Wisnu Wardhana is the Head of the Research Center for Cooperative, Corporation, and People’s Economy – the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). He is a public policy professional with 23 years of substantial experience designing, leading, advocating, and implementing a broad range of policy initiatives in the public sector, corporations, and civil society organizations. Dr. Wardhana’s areas of specialization are political economy, business economics, sustainability, and fiscal policy. Pak Irwanda holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas, a Master of Public Policy from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, and the Bachelor of Applied Science from the Indonesian Polytechnique of State Finance STAN.

Daniel Suryadarma conducts applied economics research in the areas of education, labor, poverty, and social policy. His work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, such as American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, and Journal of Development Economics. His research has informed policy discussions at the Indonesian Vice President’s Office, Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, and various international organizations and donor agencies.

Prior to joining ADBI, Daniel was the deputy team leader of the Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE) Programme in Indonesia and a senior research fellow at the SMERU Research Institute in Jakarta. He was previously a research fellow at the Australian National University and led the impact evaluation unit at the Center for International Forestry Research.

Daniel has economics degrees from Brandon University, the University of Toronto, and the Australian National University