Spotlight Archives
- ADB Seminar Series on Regional Economic Integration and Financial Sector Development Community of Practice Seminar: Harmonization of Bond Standards—ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum (ABMF) (1 September 2011, 2:00 - 3:30 pm, OCO Conference Room, ADB Headquarters, Manila)26 August 2011OREI economist Satoru Yamadera will discuss the current and future activities of ABMF. ABMF operates under the ambit of ASEAN+3 and comprises bond market experts from the region. It was established in September 2010 as a common platform to foster standardization of market practices and harmonization of regulations relating to cross-border transactions in the region.
- ADB Seminar Series on Regional Economic Integration: Multilateralism and Emerging Trade Policy Issues (26 August 2011, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, Auditorium Zone B, ADB Headquarters, Manila)19 August 2011Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization, will talk about the state of the Doha round, multilateralizing regionalism, and the evolution of the international trading system. With the WTO Doha Round trade talks approaching the 10-year mark and the increasing interest in regional trade agreements, the multilateral trading system and the WTO seem at a critical juncture. Confirm with Liza Cruz.
- ADB Working Paper Series on Regional Economic Integration No. 85 - Institution Building for African RegionalismAugust 2011Regionalism in Africa has entailed the search for collective efforts to overcome political fragmentation and economic weaknesses. This study by Gilbert M. Khadiagala is a synoptic analysis of how African countries have constructed institutions for security and prosperity. These efforts are captured through actors and events animating African regionalism since independence. The author suggests that while regional integration remains critical in Africa, unresolved tensions between continental and sub-regional institutions have impeded the emergence of stable forms of regionalism.Read more.
- Asia Capital Markets Monitor 2011August 2011Emerging Asia’s capital markets have shown great resilience over the past year, but the recent sharp sell-offs in response to economic uncertainty in the US and eurozone underscore the need for stronger policies to boost investor confidence and reduce excessive volatility. This year's issue of Asia Capital Markets Monitor (ACMM) assesses Asian markets' integration with the global market and capital flow volatility and offers policy recommendations.Read the report, highlights, and news release. Watch and listen. Mr. Azis talks about the 2011 ACMM in Bloomberg.
- Kiyoshi Nishimura to Become First CEO of Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility5 August 2011Kiyoshi Nishimura, a senior banker with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF), a trust fund of the Asian Development Bank. CGIF will provide guarantees for local currency denominated bonds issued by investment grade companies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, People’s Republic of China, Japan, and Republic of Korea. Read news release.
- ADB Working Paper Series on Regional Economic Integration No. 84 - What Drives Different Types of Capital Flows and Their Volatilities in Developing Asia?July 2011Rogelio Mercado and Cyn-Young Park identify determinants for the size and volatility of various types of capital flows to emerging economies, with evidence generally pointing to the relative importance of “pull” factors. Significant influence of a regional factor also suggests the role of regional economic and policy cooperation for effective management of capital inflows to emerging economies. Read more.
- July 2011 Asia Economic Monitor28 July 2011After last year’s strong economic recovery, emerging East Asia will see growth moderate this year as authorities continue to battle inflation amid anemic recovery and deleveraging in advanced economies, says the July issue of the Asia Economic Monitor. The report suggests that a pragmatic approach to a range of policies may help governments manage the inflationary impact of sustained and volatile changes in commodity prices. Read the report and its news release. Watch and listen. OREI Head Iwan Azis talks about the July 2011 AEM in BBC.
- FTAs now total 245 in Asia and the Pacific26 July 2011Free trade agreements (FTAs) continue to grow rapidly in Asia and the Pacific region. From just 54 in 2000, there were 245 FTAs as of July 2011, according to the Asian Development Bank. FTAs draw economies closer together and allow supply chains and production networks to flourish. About half are operational, with 65 under negotiation and 57 under discussion. Track FTA trends.
- ODI Public Seminar - The Future of the World Trading SystemJuly 2011The Overseas Development Institute (ODI), an independent think tank on international development, organized a public event on “The Future of the World Trading System” on 22 July 2011. It was held at the ODI headquarters in London and streamed live online. The event aimed to investigate key factors that shape the future world trading system by discussing issues relevant to the Doha Round, the so-called “Plan B” agreement, the effect of widespread FTA proliferation, and the future role of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Event materials can be accessed here.
- Aid for Trade in the Asia-Pacific: Its Role in Trade-Driven Growth, Report from the Co-Chairs of the Regional Technical Group (RTG) on Aid for Trade for the Asia-PacificJuly 2011This first RTG Co-chairs report—Aid for Trade in the Asia–Pacific: Its Role in Trade-Driven Growth—takes stock of the Asia–Pacific experience and identifies the way forward for the WTO Aid for Trade Initiative in the region. Aid for Trade offers the opportunity to close the gap between the “two faces of Asia". The report shows that a regional approach backed by national strategies will ensure that available assistance is used most effectively for maximum benefit.It also shows that we must continue to seek additional concessional finance for well-designed projects and programs with high rates of return. Aid for Trade must also combine concessional finance with less concessional assistance where appropriate. See also Aid for Trade for the Asia-Pacific website.
