Since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, countries in East Asia have made efforts to promote regional monetary and financial cooperation to complement the evolving international financial architecture. This increased interest in regional monetary and financial cooperation has resulted in several initiatives - the ASEAN Surveillance Process, the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers Process including its Chiang Mai Initiative of 2000, the Manila Framework Group and the Asia-Europe Finance Ministers Process to name a few. These developments in some ways represent a significant break from the past. Going forward the key challenge is how to set priorites and sequence developments so as to smooth the path to a new regional financial architecture. This two-volume set takes up the issue of developing a road map of policy options, both at the regional and country levels, for carrying forward the ongoing efforts in monetary and financial cooperation in East Asia. Building on a series of core reports and background papers by eminent economists and policymakers around the world commissioned under an ADB technical assistance project, the books explore what is feasible and desirable in regional monetary and financial cooperation and lays out a road map for putting the concept into action over the next several years. Volume 1 contains an overview by Peter Montiel, and three core studies by Olam Chaipravat, Eric Girardin, and Takatoshi Ito and Yung-Chul Park. Volume 2 contains background papers by Robert J. Barro; Elbliog'onore Boiscuvier and Alfred Steinherr; Barry Eichengreen; Jeffrey A. Frankel; Eric Girardin; Jong-Wha Lee; Yung-Chul Park and Kwanho Shin; Ronald McKinnon; Eiji Ogawa, Takatoshi Ito, and YuriNagataki Sasaki; Ramkishen Rajan and Reza Siregar; Yunjong Wang and Wing Thye Woo; and Charles Wyplosz. The volumes and the study on which they were based were conceptualized, supervised, and coordinated by Pradumna B. Rana and Srinivasa Madhur.

Since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, East Asia has implemented a number of initiatives designed to strengthen monetary and financial cooperation, bolstering the region's resilience to economic and financial vulnerabilities. One such initiative is the ASEAN & 3 Information Exchange and Policy Dialogue, which includes development of early warning systems (EWS) for financial crises. This book examines efforts to develop EWS models. Specifically, the book analyses the current understanding of the causes of currency and banking crises, describes recent progress in developing and applying EWS models for currency and banking crises, reviews methodological isues, assesses the predictive power of EWS models and also highlights areas where further research is required to make these models more effective tools for policy analysis. The case studies apply both parametric and nonparametric approaches to EWS modeling using data from six East Asian countries.

This report explains how rising climate and disaster risk can increase the vulnerability of Asia and the Pacific region's urban poor and how engendering systemic change can strengthen their resilience. It emphasizes the need to put them at the center of decision-making and for targeted actions to tackle the drivers of vulnerability. It shows why households and cities are key entry points for the investment and intervention needed to cut risk and improve adaptation. Urging stronger community-level infrastructure, social protection, and urban planning, it underscores how governments can create enabling environments that help build a more resilient future.

This report explores green bonds and other finance instruments for climate-resilient infrastructure to help meet the growing demand for green investments and achieve a low carbon economy in Indonesia. The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) consulted with experts in partnership with ADB, the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility, and PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur under Indonesia's Ministry of Finance in preparing this updated report, following previous editions published in 2018 and 2019. It as part of a series of reports for various countries developed by CBI to promote green financing among various stakeholders and development partners in the public and private sectors, including project owners and developers, institutional investors, asset managers, financial institutions, government bodies, and international organizations.

The Master Plan presents a comprehensive 10-year strategy and action plan for improving the subregion's transport linkages across the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member states. It is intended to guide actions and promote synergies among various connectivity frameworks and help achieve sustainable development of the region. A specific framework is presented here for organizing a set of policies, strategies, and projects toward realizing a shared vision of peace, prosperity, and sustainability. With BIMSTEC's unique geographical position as a bridge linking South and Southeast Asia, this document is also relevant to its neighboring regions. BIMSTEC was established as a regional organization in June 1997 to promote free trade within the region, increase cross-border investment and tourism, and promote technical cooperation.

This publication explains why Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand need to ramp up cooperation to boost their special economic zones (SEZ) and spur sustainable growth. Mapping out and assessing the economic performance of SEZs across the subregion, the publication highlights the threats they face from digital technologies, rising competition for foreign investment and international trade standoffs. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, it details a range of practical steps designed to increase trade, create jobs, and build economic resilience across the three countries.

The guidelines provide universal design solutions, accessibility standards, and case studies on inclusive urban development that accommodate the needs of the marginalized, especially persons with disabilities and the elderly. The guidelines aim to support designers and decision-makers responsible for new infrastructure developments in Georgia to ensure they contribute toward the creation of inclusive and livable cities. These are relevant for replication across the wider Central and West Asia region and other ADB developing member countries.

This report looks at financial inclusion in Kazakhstan and considers how microfinance organizations could boost lending to its fast-growing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It analyzes the myriad hurdles that prevent many small enterprises from securing traditional bank loans and recommends ways business-focused lenders can help bridge the financing gap. Recommendations include expanding Kazakhstan's microfinance market and ensuring nontraditional lenders become more tech-savvy to help MSMEs access sufficient credit, create jobs, and drive economic growth.

The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Digital Strategy 2030 aims as a catalyst for regional cooperation on digital technologies among the program's member countries. The strategy provides a mechanism to promote policy design, capacity building, and dialogue on digital technologies to address social and economic challenges posed by the rapid development of disruptive technologies and the coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) pandemic. It seizes the opportunity to leverage digital technologies to recover and build-back-better.

This tool kit provides insights on how new fintech solutions, aided by strong policy and regulation, can support more inclusive growth and help economies recover from the pandemic. The rapid growth of fintech services in Asia and the Pacific can help countries leapfrog the challenges of traditional financial services infrastructure and dramatically increase access to financial services. An inclusive fintech ecosystem is important in supporting economic growth, greater equality, and lower poverty levels. This publication suggests how to provide an enabling policy and regulatory environment to promote responsible fintech innovation, while ensuring consumer protection and supporting inclusive economic development in the region.

This report presents the findings of the second Provincial Facilitation for Investment and Trade (ProFIT) survey in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The ProFIT index aims to measure how well provinces support private sector development, notably through economic governance measures that are under their mandate. The report shares analysis in six key areas: (i) ease of starting a business, (ii) transparency and access to information, (iii) regulatory burden, (iv) informal charges, (v) consistency in policy implementation, and (vi) business friendliness of the provincial administration. It notes improvements in the business environment across all provinces because of progress made in registration requirements.

This technical note explains why countries should cement strong public private partnerships (PPP) to bridge deep funding gaps and build the climate-resilient infrastructure they need. It analyzes how the pandemic and government worries over value for money have combined with business' concerns over investment risk to dampen regional PPP deals. Providing a checklist for countries to rate projects, it explains why robust governance and strategic planning is critical to the success of public-private deals. It underscores that embracing the private sector is crucial to build sustainable infrastructure that can boost jobs, stimulate growth, and support an inclusive recovery.

This publication analyzes the Product-Specific Rules of Origin (PSRO) of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and other free trade agreements and proposes policy options. The report compares RCEP with the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It looks at the main rules of origin provisions of the three free trade agreements and discusses differences and similarities in how they were drafted. The study compares the stringency and leniency of RCEP PSRO with that of the other agreements and identifies where PSRO among the three are converging. Its findings provide the basis for policy recommendations to leverage RCEP to simplify rules of origin across Asia and the Pacific.

This publication explores practical ways of providing disaster-resilient infrastructure along with significant co-benefits across Asia and the Pacific. Risks posed by natural hazards are expected to intensify as economies grow, urbanize, and grapple with climate change. Roads, bridges, power networks, and other infrastructure assets are central to people's daily lives and economic opportunity: how such assets are planned, operated, and financed will shape resilience in the region. This publication takes a holistic view of practices that affect infrastructure resilience, including risk assessment, investment appraisal, and operation and maintenance across the life cycle of an infrastructure asset. It considers overarching approaches to achieving system-wide resilience and financing and governance objectives.

This report compares the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with other free trade agreements and suggests how policy makers can promote its successful implementation. The analysis in this report aims to support policy makers and negotiators in RCEP implementation by identifying areas where further work is needed to make the agreement more attractive to firms and investors. The report shows that despite RCEP's shortcomings it presents valuable opportunities to deepen regional economic integration. Critically important are the agreement's built-in provisions and economic and technical cooperation measures that make it possible to expand its depth and coverage in the future.

This note provides information on planning and implementing electronic national single window systems to support efficient compliance with international trade regulations. A national single window enables trade and transport stakeholders to provide information to multiple government agencies through one platform to meet import, export, and transit requirements efficiently. Processing international trade through a single window reduces cargo release time and the cost of doing business, increases competitiveness and efficiency, and improves the way business is done. The guidance note explores why such a system matters, key governance and design components, international interoperability, good practices, and risk mitigation.

This publication examines the economy and trade of Pakistan in the context of global value chains (GVCs), or cross-border production networks. The report combines innovative analytical tools with the latest available data to explore Pakistan's involvement in GVCs. It produces indicators on factors including Pakistan's rate of GVC participation, its patterns of specialization, and the price competitiveness of its exports. It is a joint publication with the Islamic Development Bank Institute.

This edition of the Asia Bond Monitor reviews developments in emerging East Asian local currency bond markets and discusses how the financial sector can help fund the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Local currency bonds outstanding in emerging East Asian markets climbed to USD16.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2020. Risks remain heavily tilted to the downside given uncertainty about the effects of COVID-19. A section on the financial sector and COVID-19 discusses the use of pandemic bonds and social bonds to mobilize resources and of fintech to support inclusive growth and pandemic resilience. A chapter on financial architecture and innovation examines whether banks or equity and debt markets are more conducive to innovation. It finds that a market-based financial system is more conducive.

This publication identifies investment approaches, opportunities, and finance mechanisms in Southeast Asia that can promote and catalyze funds for a sustainable ocean economy. It provides an overview of the "blue economy"" and emphasizes its significance for protecting the biodiversity of natural resources in Southeast Asia. The "blue economy" is defined as the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources to drive economic growth and improve livelihoods, while protecting and nurturing marine ecosystems. The publication looks how multilateral and bilateral funding sources, a market-based approach, incentives, and regulations can contribute to achieving a blue economy. It also discusses how these elements need to be aligned within a cohesive development framework.

This publication assesses the Government of Bhutan's financial relief measures for the most affected people, as well as programs and other interventions to address the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The strategic thrust of interventions for the sector is based on striking the right balance between the immediate need to engage the economically displaced while simultaneously initiating major reforms and investments for a sustainable reopening.

The Pacific region is expected to contract by 0.6% in 2021, and to grow by 4.7% in 2022. This issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor explores how the region can reopen and rebuild. Besides safely resuming travel and protecting health, a resilient recovery will depend on promoting fiscal sustainability and strengthening economic management, including regional cooperation to revitalize tourism.

This report examines the impacts of COVID-19 on labour markets along with adjustment patterns in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Labour markets in Southeast Asia were particularly hit hard in 2020 when government pandemic containment measures were most severe. COVID-19 exacerbated growing inequalities in the region and exposed large gaps in social protection . This report aims to help policymakers identify priorities, constraints, and opportunities for developing effective labour market strategies for economic recovery and beyond.

This report explores how regional cooperation and integration (RCI) can be enhanced in Asia and the Pacific to help the region build back resiliently and sustainably from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The report reflects on lessons learned from efforts to tackle the pandemic through regional cooperation and integration. It provides insights on how region-wide solidarity can be enhanced with the support of multilateral development banks in areas such as trade and investment, connectivity infrastructure, people's mobility, regional public goods, and policy cooperation. The report was jointly prepared by the ADB, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank, and the World Bank Group.

The Asia Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Monitor provides data and analysis as a resource for evidence-based policy design. This year's edition focuses on South Asia. This first volume reviews micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) at the country and regional levels. It covers Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and examines MSME development, access to finance, and policies and regulations. It notes that revitalizing MSMEs by channeling more growth capital to them will be key to a resilient economic recovery from the pandemic. It highlights opportunities in formalizing MSMEs and connecting them to international markets, expanding digital skills, fostering technology-based start-ups, and supporting youth and women entrepreneurs.