Bücher veröffentlicht von Asian Development Bank

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.

Infrastructure has played a critical role in Asia and the Pacific's rapid economic growth. Roads, bridges, and power networks, among other assets, are part of people's daily lives, and a foundation for their economic opportunity. But increasing disaster risks and climate change is forcing us to rethink how we manage infrastructure. This publication identifies opportunities to deliver resilient infrastructure across developing Asia. It 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 asset, as well as overarching approaches to achieving system-wide resilience, financing, and governance objectives.

This publication examines Mongolia's recent economic development and outlines reforms that would help the country take advantage of its many opportunities. Mongolia is rich in natural resources and, although landlocked, is well-placed to boost trade with its two giant neighbors. The country needs to diversify its economy beyond mining, enhance economic stability, and increase employment. To maximize Mongolia's potential the government can improve macroeconomic management, enhance the skill base, and provide hard and soft infrastructure to promote trade and efficient logistics. Governance and institutional reforms are also crucial. The government will need to continue to drive reforms so that they are well implemented and deliver the intended change.

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.

All forms of asbestos are considered carcinogenic to humans. However, around 125 million people globally are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, with an estimated 233,000 deaths every year attributed to the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers. This publication aims to increase awareness of the health risks associated with asbestos in the workplace and provides recommendations and checklists on avoiding and managing the risks of exposure. It covers the duties of employers and contractors; training requirements; and the identification, containment, safe removal, and management of asbestos waste.

This technical note explains why countries should cement strong public private partnerships (PPP) to help 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 potential PPP projects, it explains why robust governance and strategic planning is critical to the success of public-private partnerships. It underscores that embracing the private sector is crucial for countries to build sustainable infrastructure that can boost jobs, stimulate growth, and support an inclusive recovery.

Digital transformation can positively impact economic growth, jobs creation, and social inclusion. As the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) region deals with the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, investing in national broadband infrastructure is more crucial than ever to enable connectivity and improve service delivery. Digitalization will allow CAREC member countries to develop robust solutions for areas including agriculture and water, e-commerce and trade, education and skills, energy, finance, health, transportation, and tourism. The CAREC Digital Strategy 2030 is intended as a catalyst for regional cooperation, promoting policy design, capacity building,and dialogue to address economic and social challenges in the region with the help of digital technologies.

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, it highlights the threats they face from factors including growing competition for foreign investment, international trade disputes, and the rise of digital technologies. The publication stresses the need for policymakers and stakeholders to intensify their strategic collaboration in order to make their SEZs more competitive. 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.

These guidelines were developed through the collaborative efforts of the Asian Development Bank and the Municipal Department of Environmental Protection of Tbilisi City Hall. The publication aims to inform decisions that will contribute to the sustainable development of Tbilisi and give residents a better quality of life while protecting their valuable heritage and preserving the green landscape for successive generations. The guidelines recommend development features and design specifications for green space provision and identify priorities for improvements and for ensuring that limited resources are targeted at areas of most need.

The coronavirus disease or COVID-19 has brought countries together to mitigate its spread and cushion its adverse consequences. Regional cooperation will be perhaps even more important in building an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economic revival. This guidance note advocates wider, deeper, and more open regional cooperation and integration. Cooperation can be widened to include regional health security, trade in information and communication technology-enabled services, and financial safety nets, for example. It can be deepened to reach more stakeholders and sectors. It can also become more open through flexible collaboration and greater sharing of knowledge and expertise.

The water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector plays a key role in enabling a healthier population in the Pacific and in building countries' resilience to public health emergencies such as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This publication looks at the impact of the pandemic on the WASH sector in the 14 Pacific developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It proposes strategic directions to help ADB's technical assistance support a more resilient and sustainable WASH sector as the region continues to manage the disease while seeking to reopen borders and economic activity.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has devastated tourism in Asia and the Pacific, exposing the region's dependence on the sector. This publication examines the prepandemic tourism system, the impacts of COVID-19, and how tourism in the region might be reset to contribute more effectively to the Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights six pathways for promoting systemic change in the sector: a value-driven approach, decarbonization, tourism-led regeneration, improved governance, and sustainable finance. It provides concrete recommendations on how policymakers and industry stakeholders can leverage tourism to foster sustainable development and a green recovery in Asia and the Pacific.

This report examines the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on labor markets in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Labor markets in Southeast Asia were particularly hit hard in 2020, when government containment measures were most severe. COVID-19 has exacerbated growing inequalities in the region-hurting not just low-skilled workers but also middle-skilled workers whose jobs were already at risk from automation even before the pandemic. Large gaps in social protection coverage were also exposed. While the policy response has been significant, a narrowing fiscal space and the protracted nature of the pandemic still pose major challenges for recovery. The report aims to help policymakers identify priorities, constraints, and opportunities for developing effective labor market strategies for economic recovery and beyond.

This report explores digital solutions that can support the core business processes of public health insurance operators in Asia and the Pacific. It draws on examples from low- and middle-income countries from the region and beyond to demonstrate how digital solutions have improved health insurance management and administration. To support decision-making on potential investments, the report identifies key success factors for integrating new technologies into public health insurance schemes.

The services sector is becoming a key driver of economic development in most members of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program. This study underscores the potential for greater economic diversification through robust development of seven key services subsectors and industries that are critical for economies in the region to function and thrive. CAREC members also need to adopt a coherent and comprehensive approach to the balanced development of these interdependent services subsectors. Enabling conditions such as good governance, competitive markets, strong regional cooperation and integration, efficient labor markets, and high quality physical and digital infrastructure are crucial.

This publication provides guidance on how civil society organizations (CSOs) can be more effectively engaged in Asian Development Bank (ADB) operations to maximize the benefits for its developing member countries.With their unique strengths and specialized knowledge of their communities and constituencies, CSOs have an essential role to play in creating a more prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific. To contribute to this, the publication provides advice, templates, and tips for ADB staff and country officials to use when designing, implementing, and monitoring ADB-financed operations.