Fortnightly Progress Report 14–25 January 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS

• ADBI's ranking among government-affiliated think tanks jumped from 10th to 6th in the 2012 Global Go To Think Tanks Report, which ranked more than 6,500 think tanks. ADBI was ranked the 17th best international development think tank and the 24th best think tank outside the United States. It was ranked the 32nd best think tank in the world.

II. DETAILED DIVISIONAL WORK PROGRESS

A. DEAN KAWAI

• The Dean Delivered a lecture at Tokyo University, 18 January. Contributed a paper titled, Financing Development Cooperation in

Northeast Asia, for the first issue of The Northeast Asian Economic Review, published by the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia.

B. RESEARCH

• ADBI–PRI Joint Conference: Fiscal Reconstruction. Fiscal Rule or Fiscal Crisis? Challenges to Fiscal Consolidation from a Global Perspective, was held at ADBI, 17 January. Dean Kawai presented a joint paper with Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan on Long-term Issues for Fiscal Sustainability and Fiscal Monitoring in Other Asian Countries, and delivered the closing remarks. Deputy Dean Jae Ha Park discussed the presented research papers on recent progress and prospects for future sustainability of fiscal policy.

C. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING (CBT)

• CBT Director Yuqing Xing and CBT Consultant Muhammad Cholifihani organized and attended the event, The 3rd ADBI-OECD-ILO Roundtable on Labor Migration in Asia: Assessing Labor Market Requirements for Foreign Workers and Developing Policies for Regional Skills Mobility, in Bangkok, 23–25 January.

D. OUTREACH

• CBT Director Yuqing Xing’s paper, How the iPhone Widens the United States Trade Deficit with the People’s Republic of China, was cited in the Financial Times article, Research reshapes debates on global trade policy.

• Ganeshan Wignaraja was quoted in the Business Times Singapore article, Fukushima blows away supply chains

• ADBI was cited in the Mainichi Shimbun article, Fiscal Rule or Fiscal Crisis?

• Working papers published From a Centralized to a Decentralized Global Economic Architecture:

An Overview International Financial Reforms: Capital Standards, Resolution

Regimes and Supervisory Colleges, and their Effect on Emerging Markets

Enhancing the Effectiveness of CMIM and AMRO: Selected Immediate Challenges and Tasks

Navigating a Changing World Economy: ASEAN, the People's Republic of China, and India

• Asia Pathways posts published: Calming volatile international capital flows The Bank of Japan’s New Monetary Framework: Less than Meets the Eye

III. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• The Next Steps for APEC: An Assessment and Way Forward will be held at ADBI, 28 January. Dean Kawai will deliver the welcome remarks.

• Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Edward Chen: Poverty and Inequality in Hong Kong, China: Policy Implications for Emerging Economies, will be held at ADBI, 5 February.

• CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam will organize a book launch event for the ADB–ADBI study, Low-Carbon Green Growth in Asia: Policies and Practices, during the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, 31 January and will participate in the Sustainable Asia Leadership Program, 3 February.

• Capacity Building Economist Ha-Yan Lee will organize the GraSPP Asian Economic Development & Integration Course Term Paper Presentation, 31 January.

Fortnightly Progress Report 28 January to 8 February 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS

• The Next Steps for APEC: An Assessment and Way Forward was held at ADBI, 28 January. Dean Kawai delivered the welcome remarks.

II. DETAILED DIVISIONAL WORK PROGRESS

A. DEAN’S OFFICE

• The Dean was invited to Bloomberg's “newsmakers lunch," 3 February, to meet reporters and to discuss economic issues. His comments were reported in the article, No Obstacle to Kuroda at Japan Central Bank Seen by ADBI’s Kawai

• Dean Kawai took part in a high-level ADB–ADBI mission to Myanmar, 7-8 February.

B. RESEARCH

• Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Edward Chen: Poverty and Inequality in Hong Kong, China: Policy Implications for Emerging Economies, was held at ADBI, 5 February.

C. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING (CBT)

• CBT Director Yuqing Xing met with Japan Fair Trade Commission on 4 February to discuss the 8th high-level policy dialogue on East Asian Competition Policies.

• CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam organized a book launch event for the ADB–ADBI study, Low-Carbon Green Growth in Asia: Policies and Practices, during the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, 31 January and participated in the Sustainable Asia Leadership Program, 3 February.

• Capacity Building Economist Ha-Yan Lee organized the GraSPP Asian Economic Development & Integration Course Term Paper Presentation, 31 January.

• CBT consultant Muhammad Cholifihani discussed with Nanyang Technology University, Singapore, a proposal for the Conference on Integrating

Domestic Industries with Global Production Networks, which will be held in Singapore on 8–10 May.

D. OUTREACH

• Media coverage Dean Kawai was interviewed for the Bloomberg News article, No Obstacle

to Kuroda at Japan Central Bank Seen by ADBI’s Kawai Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja was interviewed for The Times

of India article; Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is huge for Indian businesses. And NHK World interviewed him on the outlook for the Indonesian economy.

CBT Director Yuqing Xing’s paper, How the iPhone Widens the United States Trade Deficit with the People’s Republic of China, was cited in the Xinhua News Agency article, New measurement may reshape China-U.S. trade ties

Peter Morgan was cited in the Business Times Singapore article, Is Abenomics a cover for Tokyo's real agenda?

• Working papers published Production Networks, Profits, and Innovative Activity: Evidence from

Malaysia and Thailand Risk-On/Risk-Off, Capital Flows, Leverage, and Safe Assets

• Asia Pathways posts published: Migration matters: the race to ensure a future supply of workers in Asia Natural Disasters and Production Networks in the Asia and Pacific Region

III. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• Dean Kawai will attend the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) Conference in Singapore, 22–23 February.

• Brown Bag Lunch Seminar: How Much External Demand Contributes to the Growth of the Chinese Economy?, by Director of CBT Yuqing Xing and Senior Research Fellow Minquan Liu, will be held at ADBI on 13 February.

• A Disaster Risk Management Coordination Workshop will be held at ADBI, 20–21 February. Dean Kawai will deliver the opening remarks. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park and Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja will moderate. Senior Research Fellow Minquan Liu, and JBIC Representative Atsushi Masuda, will join the discussions. A Disaster Risk Management Workshop, also organized by ADBI, will be held at Tohoku University, 22 February in Sendai, Japan. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park, Senior Research

Fellow Minquan Liu, and JBIC Representative Atsushi Masuda will facilitate the workshop.

• Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja will give a presentation on regional economic integration and the role of SMEs at Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia’s FUKUOKA FORUM 2012: Economic Integration in East Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for Japanese SME, in Fukuoka, Japan, 14 February.

• Capacity Building Economist Ha-Yan Lee will organize the Agricultural Productivity and Natural Resources' Management, Training Program 2, a CLMV project, in Khon Kaen, Thailand, 18–22 February.

Fortnightly Progress Report 11–22 February 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS

• A Disaster Risk Management Coordination Workshop was held at ADBI, 20–21 February. Dean Kawai delivered the opening remarks. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park and Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja moderated. A Disaster Risk Management Workshop, also organized by ADBI, was held at Tohoku University, 22 February in Sendai, Japan. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park, Senior Research Fellow Minquan Liu, and Atsushi Masuda facilitated the workshop.

II. DETAILED DIVISIONAL WORK PROGRESS

A. DEAN KAWAI

• Dean Kawai attended the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) Conference , 22–23 February. in Singapore

B. RESEARCH

• Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja gave a presentation on regional economic integration and the role of SMEs at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia’s FUKUOKA FORUM 2012: Economic Integration in East Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for Japanese SME, in Fukuoka, Japan, 14 February.

C. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING (CBT)

• Brown Bag Lunch Seminar: CBT Director Yuqing Xing presented findings of a research paper titled, How Much External Demand Contributes to the Growth of the Chinese Economy? at ADBI, 13 February.

• Special Adviser to the Dean, Giovanni Capannelli, and Capacity Building Economist Ha-Yan Lee organized the Agricultural Productivity and Natural Resources' Management, Training Program 2, a CLMV project, in Khon Kaen, Thailand, 18–22 February.

• CBT consultant Muhammad Cholifihani met with the APAC Business Advisory Council on 14 February to discuss preparation for 2013 Asia-Pacific Forum on Financial Inclusion to be held in Indonesia in June.

D. OUTREACH

• Media coverage CBT Director Yuqing Xing was interviewed by Xinhua News on

“Abenomics” and its implication for the PRC. He was also interviewed by Danish Broadcasting Corp. on whether the PRC is now the world’s No.1 trading nation.

The Mainichi Newspaper featured ADBI in the article, Fiscal Rule or Fiscal Crisis? Challenges to Fiscal Consolidation from a Global Perspective.

The Financial Times published a letter by Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan titled, Japan’s economy not about ‘belief.’

• Working papers published Economic Stability and Choice of Exchange Rate Regimes Financing Development Cooperation in Northeast Asia

• Asia Pathways posts published: Is political union Europe’s solution to the eurozone crisis? Japan must join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement talks

III. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• Seminar by Guntram Wolff—Is the Eurozone Crisis Over? will be held at ADBI, 26 February.

• Seminar by Hans Gensberg—International Reserves: IMF Concerns and Country Perspectives will be held at ADBI, 7 March.

• ADBI-JFSA Joint Conference: Strengthening the Asian Financial Sector toward Sustainable and Inclusive Growth will be held in Tokyo, 8 March.

• Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja will give a presentation on the effects of FTAs in the Asian region at the conference, The Indonesia-Japan relations and economic integration in East Asia, jointly organized by JETRO, IDE, and CSIS, in Jakarta, Indonesia, 4 March. He will also attend the Connecting South and Southeast Asia—Steering Committee Meeting at ADB HQ Manila, 5 March. Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan will join the meeting via video conference.

1

Fortnightly Progress Report 11 to 22 March 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS

• Conference on Future of the World Trading System: Asian Perspectives, jointly organized by ADBI, WTO, and the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, was held in Geneva, 11–12 March.

Dean Kawai delivered the opening remarks and presented Asian FTAs: Trends, Prospects and Challenges.

Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja presented Engaging Small and Medium Enterprises in Production Networks: Firm‐level Analysis of Five ASEAN Economies.

CBT Director Yuqing Xing presented Trade in Value-Added: East Asian Perspective.

II. DETAILED DIVISIONAL WORK PROGRESS

A. DEAN KAWAI

• Dean Kawai gave a lecture on Implication of Asia’s rise for Europe and

Developing Countries at London University School of Oriental and African Studies, 13 March.

participated in a discussion on inclusive green growth and regional cooperation in Asia at Rebalancing Asia: Implications for Inclusive Green Growth, a joint Overseas Development Institute and ADBI event held in London, 13 March.

presented, with Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja, An Asian View of the World Trade Organization, at the London School of Economics, 13 March.

gave a presentation on New Thinking on the Role of Central Banks in Uncertain Economic Times at Chatham House in London, 14 March.

B. DEPUTY DEAN PARK

• Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park attended and also gave the opening remarks at the CBT event, Regional Capacity Building Training Program: Regulatory Environments to Promote Financial Inclusion in Developing APEC and Other Regional Economies, held in Melbourne, 20–22 March.

2

C. RESEARCH

• Brawn Bag Lunch Seminar. Atsushi Masuda presented the findings of Sovereign Risk Contagion: Financial Econometrics Analysis on EURO Government Bonds at ADBI, 13 March.

• Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja spoke at the seminar, Outlook on Asia's Growth and Transformation: Implications for Global and UK Business, at the British Expertise/UK Trade and Investment in London, 15 March, about the outlook and risks for Asian economies, Asia’s transformation to a vibrant regional market, economic challenges, and the opportunities for global and UK business.

D. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING (CBT)

• CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam organized the e-learning course, Policies and Practices for Natural Resource Management, 14 March. He also participated in the Western Economic Association International (WEI) Asia-Pacific Biannual Conference, held in Tokyo, 14–17 March.

• CBT Consultant Muhammad Cholifihani organized the Regional Capacity Building Training Program: Regulatory Environments to Promote Financial Inclusion in Developing APEC and Other Regional Economies, held in Melbourne, 20–22 March, with the Australian APEC Study Centre (AASC) at RMIT University, and The Association of Development Finance Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP).

E. OUTREACH

• Media coverage Dean Kawai was interviewed by NHK World for the segment, Free

Trade Gets A Boost As Japan Joins TPP Talks

Dean Kawai was also interviewed by Tokyo Broadcasting System TV for a segment on Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda.

And he was cited in the following articles: The Times: North Korea could ruin a golden era for Asia, says bank

chief Bloomberg News: Kuroda Brings Oxford Mindset to BOJ After

Shirakawa Chicago View Bloomberg Businessweek and The Washington Post: Japan MOF’s

Nakao Nominated to Replace Kuroda at ADB South China Morning Post: Japan picks currency chief for top ADB job

3

• Working papers published Emerging Geopolitical Trends and Security in the Association of

Southeast Asian Nations, the People's Republic of China, and India (ACI) Region

• Asia Pathways posts published: Have APEC Five been penalized for not achieving the Bogor Goals? The PRC is not yet the world’s No. 1 trading nation

III. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• Dean Kawai will deliver a speech at the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul, hosted by Chosun, 27 March. And he will give a lecture at Hitotsubashi Unversity, in Tokyo, 3 April.

• OECD-ADBI 13th Roundtable on Capital Market Reform, organized by CBT Economist Ha-Yan Lee, will be held at ADBI, 4–5 April. Dean Kawai will deliver the opening remarks and speak on European Sovereign Debt Crisis: Asian Perspectives. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park will moderate session two: Understanding the Relationship between Liberalization, Capital Flow Measures & Macro-Prudential Measures. Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan will moderate session four: Contribution of Long-Term Institutional Investors to Growth: SWFs/Pension Funds.

• Meeting on the Future of the World Trading System Asian perspectives—Working Dinner, will be held at ADBI, 25 March.

• Meeting on the Report of the Regional Technical Group of Aid for Trade will be hosted by ADBI, 25 March. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park and Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja will participate.

• First 2013 Asian Development Review Conference will be held at ADB HQ in Manila, 25–26 March. Dean Kawai will deliver the opening remarks. Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan will also attend.

• Sixth Regional Technical Group Meeting on Aid for Trade for Asia and the Pacific, organized by ADBI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA), will be held at ADBI, 26 March. Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja will participate.

• Informal Board Seminar on Climate Change and Green Asia Study, organized by ADB and ADBI, will be held at ADB HQ in Manila, 26 March. Dean Kawai will present the report.

• Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja will participate in a panel discussion on Resource Mobilization for Enhancing Connectivity in ASEAN and APEC Regionalism Process at the symposium, Building APEC and ASEAN Connectivity: Areas of Mutual Interest and Prospects of Cooperation, hosted by the Institute of South East Asia Studies, in Singapore, 3 April.

Fortnightly Progress Report 8–19 April 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS

A. DEAN KAWAI

• Dean Kawai delivered a presentation and participated as a panelist at

the Asia-Pacific Financial market Development Symposium hosted by the Australian government, in Sydney, 10–11 April.

gave a presentation at the APEC Dialogue on Infrastructure Development and Investment and APEC SOM Symposium on Connectivity in the Asia–Pacific Region, in Surabaya, 16 April.

B. DEPUTY DEAN

• Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park gave a lecture at the school of International and Public Policy of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 10 April.

C. RESEARCH

• Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja attended a dinner address by Canadian Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, at the Embassy of Canada in Japan, 10 April. And he attended a meeting of the Regional Technical Group on Aid for Trade via video conference on 16 April.

• Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan gave a lecture on macroeconomic management within the Asian economic development and integration course offered by ADBI under the Asian Public Policy Program at the school of International and Public Policy of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 17 April.

D. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING (CBT)

• CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam organized the ADBI–CAREC workshop, Examining Integrated Trade Facilitation 'at the border' and ‘behind the border’, in Tbilisi, Georgia, 10–13 April.

• CBT consultant Muhammad Cholifihani is finalizing the Regional Conference on Integrating Domestic Industries with Global Production Networks and Supply Chains to be held in Singapore, 8–10 May.

E. OUTREACH

• Dean Kawai was interviewed for The Australian Financial Review article, “Australia told to back Asian bailout fund.”

• Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan was cited in The Wall Street Journal article, “Japan Prepares to Defend Policy at G-20”

• Working papers published Association of Southeast Asian Nations, People's Republic of China,

and India Growth and the Rest of the World: The Role of Trade International Price Dispersion and Market Segmentation in Japan and

the United States: Theory and Empirics • Asia Pathways posts published: Renminbi currency valuation: A welcome change in US policy

II. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• Dean Kawai, Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park, Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja, and other staff will attend the 46th

Meeting highlights

Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of ADB in Delhi, 2–5 May.

ADB–ADBI joint event on Disaster Risk Management in Asia and the Pacific will be held on 2 May. Dean Kawai, Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja, and other professional research staff of ADBI will attend.

Dean Kawai will attend the seminar Regional Cooperation and Integration in a Changing World on 4 May.

ADB–ADBI joint seminar on Connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia will be held on 5 May. Dean Kawai will present the results of the interim report. Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja and other professional research staff of ADBI will also attend.

• ADBI Advisory Council Meeting will be held at ADBI, 26 April. • The policy dialogue, New Economic Policies of the PRC, Japan, and

the Republic of Korea and the Implications for Regional Economic Growth, will be held at ADBI, 25 April.

• ADBI–NEAR Joint Conference: Season of Change for Policy in Northeast Asia will be held in Seoul, 23 April. Dean Kawai will deliver the opening remarks, give policy

recommendations for Northeast Asia, and chair Session 2: Deepening Economic Integration: Possible Obstacles and the Way Forward, and he will moderate Session 6: Panel Discussion: Towards a Peaceful Co-Prosperity of Northeast Asia

Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan will discuss papers presented in Session 5: Implications of Geunhye-nomics in Korea for People's Happiness, Welfare, and Prosperity

• ADB–ADBI joint seminar on Asian Development Outlook 2013 will be held at ADBI, 25 April. Dean Kawai will deliver the concluding remarks.

• CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam will organize the Regional Roundtable on Public Sector Management and Public-Private Partnerships for Development Results, to be held at ADBI, 22–24 April.

• CBT Director Yuqing Xing will organize the event New Economic Policies of the PRC, Japan, and the Republic of Korea and the Implications for Regional Economic Growth, to be held at ADBI, 25 April.

• Atsushi Masuda will give a lecture at the school of International and Public Policy of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 24 April.

Fortnightly Progress Report 22 April to 5 May 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS

• Dean Kawai, Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park, and Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja attended the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of ADB in Delhi, 2–5 May.

Meeting highlights: ADB–ADBI joint seminar on Connecting South and Southeast Asia. Dean

Kawai presented the results of the interim report. Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja and other professional research staff of ADBI also attended.

ADB–ADBI joint event on Disaster Risk Management in Asia. Dean Kawai, Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja, and other professional research staff of ADBI attended.

Dean Kawai attended Regional Cooperation and Integration in a Changing World as a panelist.

A. DEAN KAWAI

• Dean Kawai attended and gave closing remarks at the Asian Development Outlook seminar hosted by JRO, 25 April.

B. RESEARCH

• ADBI–NEAR Joint Conference: Season of Change for Policy in Northeast Asia was held in Seoul, 23 April. Dean Kawai delivered the opening remarks, gave policy recommendations

for Northeast Asia, chaired Session 2: Deepening Economic Integration: Possible Obstacles and the Way Forward, and moderated Session 6: Panel Discussion: Towards a Peaceful Co-Prosperity of Northeast Asia.

Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan discussed papers presented in Session 5: Implications of Geunhye-nomics in Korea for People's Happiness, Welfare, and Prosperity.

• Atsushi Masuda gave a lecture at the School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 24 April.

C. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING (CBT)

• Regional Roundtable on Public Sector Management and Public Private Partnerships for Development Results held at ADBI, 22–24 April.

• The policy dialogue, New Economic Policies of the PRC, Japan, and the Republic of Korea and the Implications for Regional Economic Growth, held at ADBI, 25 April.

D. OUTREACH

• Dean Kawai was cited in the Business Recorder article, Improved South-Southeast Asia connectivity key to boosting trade, re-balancing economy

• ADBI was cited in the Japan Times op-ed, Japan’s deficit in visionary thinking • The ADBI book, Monetary and Currency Policy Management in Asia,

was reviewed by the Developing Economies journal. • Dean Kawai and CBT Director Yuqing Xing were interviewed by Vietnam TV.

• Working papers published: Lessons from the European Spaghetti Bowl The 2030 Architecture of Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade

Agreements

• Asia Pathways posts published: Japan’s deglobalization Policy challenges posed by Asian FTAs

E. AMC

• ADBI Advisory Council Meeting was held at ADBI, 26 April. II. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• CBT Director Yuqing Xing will organize, with S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Regional Conference on Integrating Domestic Industries with Global Production Networks and Supply Chains, to be held in Singapore, 8–10 May.

• Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Euston Quah, Transboundary Pollution in Asia: What We Know and What Can We Do About It? will be held at ADBI, 13 May.

• CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam will give a lecture for an e-learning course at TDLC, Tokyo, 8 May.

• CBT Economist Ha-Yan Lee will organize, with ADB’s Economics and Research Department and Emik Research, the workshop, Poverty and Inequality in Asia, to be held in Bali, 7–9 May.

• Director of Research Ganeshan Wignaraja will give a seminar on ASEAN+1 FTAS to RCEP at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, 7 May. Also, he will give a presentation on the role of SMEs in production networks at an ADBI CBT event on production networks in Singapore, 8 May.

• Research Fellow Victor Pontines will give a lecture at the School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 8 May.

• CBT Specialist Venkatachalam Anbumozhi will give a lecture at the School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 15 May.

Fortnightly Progress Report 6 to 17 May 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS

• Regional 'Think 20' Seminar, jointly organized by ADBI, Lowy Institute, and KDI, was held in Sydney, 22–24 May. Dean Kawai delivered the opening remarks, spoke on progress in reforming the international financial architecture, and chaired a session on trade and investment. Deputy Dean Jae Ha Park spoke on financial regulation and the progress made on developing safer and more efficient financial systems.

A. RESEARCH

• Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Euston Quah - Transboundary Pollution in Asia: What We Know and What Can We Do About It? was held at ADBI, 13 May.

• Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja spoke at the seminar, ASEAN Post Summit Analysis and Discussion on RCEP, held at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, 7 May. And he gave a presentation on the role of SMEs in production networks at an ADBI event on production networks at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, 8 May.

• Research Fellow Victor Pontines gave a lecture at the School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 8 May.

B. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING (CBT)

• Regional Conference on Integrating Domestic Industries with Global Production Networks and Supply Chains was held jointly by ADBI and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore, 8–10 May. CBT Director Yuqing Xing presented Abenomics and its Impact on Asian Economies at the East Asian Institute, the National University of Singapore, 10 May.

• The workshop Poverty and Inequality in Asia,

• CBT Specialist Venkatachalam Anbumozhi gave a lecture at the School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 15 May.

jointly organized by ADBI, ADB’s Economics and Research Department and Emik Research, was held in Bali, 7–9 May.

• The 5th NARBO General Meeting was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 15–18 May. CBT Director Yuqing Xing and Tomotaka Higuchi attended.

• The 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit was held in Chiang Mai, 14–20 May. Tomotaka Higuchi attended.

C. OUTREACH

• Dean Kawai was quoted in the Nikkei Report article, “ANALYSIS: PM Needs to Promote Japan as Attractive Investment Destination.”

• CBT Director Yuqing Xing was interviewed by People's Daily on the outlook for RCEP negotiations.

• The ADBI book, “Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific,” was reviewed by the Maharashtra Times.

• Working papers published How Low-Carbon Green Growth Can Reduce Inequalities The Middle-Income Trap: Issues for Members of the Association

of Southeast Asian Nations

D. AMC

• Aladdin Rillo joined ADBI as Senior Capacity Building Economist. II. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• Dean Kawai will deliver a lecture at Hitotsubashi University, May 29. deliver a speech at The Bellwether Series 2013: Japan, in Tokyo, 30 May. deliver a speech at a conference organized by the Economic Social

Research Institute International, in Tokyo, 30-31 May. give a lecture at MOF-PRI, 31 May.

• BBL Seminar: Jeong Yeong Lee on Eurozone Crisis: Lessons for Asia will be held at ADBI, 24 May.

• Dean Kawai will give a lecture on Asian Economic Development and Integration within the Asian economic development and integration course offered by ADBI under the Asian Public Policy Program at the school of International and Public Policy of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 29 May.

• Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja will give a lecture at the school of International and Public Policy of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 22 May.

• Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja will give a presentation via video conference at the RCI CoP Seminar: ADB Annual Meeting Takeaways from RCI-related Seminars, organized by ADB, 23 May.

• Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan will attend the Transport Infrastructure and Logistic Study (BTILS) Updating and Enhancement Brainstorming Meeting, organized by the BIMSTEC at ADB HQ, 20 May. He will also moderate a session on risk management at the Seoul Asian Financial Forum, 27 May.

Fortnightly Progress Report 3 to 14 June 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS

• The first Asia Think Tank Summit, jointly organized by ADBI and Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania (TTCSP), was held at ADBI, 12–14 June. Heads of 40 think tanks from 23 countries attended and exchanged views on global and regional issues. President Nakao delivered the keynote address. Dean Kawai delivered the welcome and closing remarks, and chaired the roundtable discussion. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park moderated the reception hosted by ADBI and TTCSP.

• The Asia Think Tank Summit Policy Dialogue

was held at ADBI, 14 June, back-to-back with the Asia Think Tank Summit. Dean Kawai delivered the welcome and closing remarks, and he chaired the policy dialog. President Nakao attended as a panellist.

A. DEAN KAWAI

• Dean Kawai gave a presentation at the conference, Canada-Asia 2013, in

Vancouver on 3–5 June. gave a lecture at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver on 3

June. delivered a presentation at the Global Green Growth Summit in Seoul

on 7 June.

B. RESEARCH

• Seminar by Jeong Yeon Lee: Eurozone Crisis: Lessons for Asia - Regional Integration and Economic Growth was held at ADBI on 7 June.

• Senior Research Fellow Minquan Liu gave a lecture at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 5 June.

• Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja spoke at the TFCTN-WTO Parliamentarian Workshop on International Trade in Singapore, 11 June.

C. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING (CBT)

• Plugging into Global Value Chains: A Strategy for Growth?, organized

by ADBI, ADB, and the Asian Development Institute, Seoul National University, was held in Seoul, 3–5 June. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park and CBT Director Yuqing Xing attended.

• 2013 Asia-Pacific Financial Inclusion Forum: Financial Inclusion, Innovation and Regulation: Meeting the Challenges of Policy Reform and Capacity Building, organized by ADBI and the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, was held on Batam Island, Indonesia, 11–12 June. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park and CBT Director Yuqing Xing attended.

• CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam participated in the Expert Meeting on Climate change and Food Security in ASEAN, Manila, 6–7 June.

D. OUTREACH

• Dean Kawai was interviewed by Bloomberg TV on the outlook for the Japanese economy.

• ADBI’s Asia Think Tank Summit was covered by Kyodo News in the article, “Asian think tanks must keep interacting with policymakers: ADB chief”

• China Daily published the op-ed, “Tackling the free trade challenge,” by Dean Kawai and Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja.

• Asia Pathways post published How sustainable are the BRICS economic and social policies?

II. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja and special adviser to the Dean, Giovanni Capannelli, will attend a meeting on the Economic Linkages of Pacific Island Countries with East Asia at ADB, Manila, 18 June.

• Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park, CBT Director Yuqing Xing, and special adviser to the Dean, Giovanni Capannelli, will participate in the Policy Workshop on Enhancing Agricultural Productivity in CLMV Countries: Opportunities and Challenges in Manila, 19 June.

• CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam will speak at Hitotsubashi University on 19 June in Tokyo.

• Asia FTA Forum 2013, jointly organized by Boao Forum for Asia, ADB, and ADBI, will be held in Qingdao, PRC, on 19–21 June. Dean Kawai will deliver the keynote speech and participate in the closing plenary. Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja will speak, and he will moderate a session on RCEP and the WTO. Research Consultant Xiaoming Pan will make a presentation.

• Policy Dialogue on Disaster Risk Management in Asia and the Pacific will be held at ADBI on 24 June. Dean Kawai will deliver the opening remarks. Senior Research Fellow Minquan Liu will discuss the next steps for this ADB–ADBI flagship study.

• Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Ian Davis - Reflections on Reducing Disaster Risks in the Asia and Pacific Region 1972-2013.

• ADBI. 25 June.

Seminar by Ian Coxhead: Lucky Countries? Internal and External Sources of Southeast Asian Growth.

• ADBI. 26 June.

Seminar by Tatiana Didier and Sergio Schmukler: The Financing and Growth of Firms in PRC and India: Evidence from Capital Markets.

• Research Fellow Yothin Jinjarak will take part in a Q&A session at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 26 June.

ADBI. 26 June.

Fortnightly Progress Report

16 to 30 June 2013

1

Highlights 1. Asia FTA Forum 2013, jointly organized by the Boao Forum for Asia, ADBI, and

ADB, was held in Qingdao, PRC, 9–21 June. Dean Kawai delivered the keynote speech and participated in the closing plenary. Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja moderated a session on RCEP and the WTO. Research Consultant Xiaoming Pan gave a presentation. [Read more]

Dean Kawai 1. Dean Kawai gave a lecture at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 26 June.

Research 1. Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja and Special Adviser to the Dean

Giovanni Capannelli attended a meeting on the Economic Linkages of Pacific Island Countries with East Asia at ADB, 18 June.

2. Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park, CBT Director Yuqing Xing, and Special Adviser to the Dean Giovanni Capannelli participated in the Policy Workshop on Enhancing Agricultural Productivity in CLMV Countries: Opportunities and Challenges at ADB, 19 June.

3. Policy Dialogue on Disaster Risk Management in Asia and the Pacific was held at ADBI, 24 June. Dean Kawai delivered the opening remarks.

4. Research Fellow Yothin Jinjarak participated in a Q&A session at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 26 June.

5. Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Ian Davis – Reflections on Reducing Disaster Risks in the Asia and Pacific Region 1972-2013 was held at ADBI, 25 June. [Read more]

6. Seminar by Ian Coxhead: Lucky Countries? Internal and External Sources of Southeast Asian Growth was held at ADBI, 26 June. [Read more]

7. Seminar by Tatiana Didier and Sergio Schmukler: The Financing and Growth of Firms in PRC and India: Evidence from Capital Markets was held at ADBI, 26 June. [Read more]

Capacity Building and Training 1. CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam spoke at Hitotsubashi University,

Tokyo, 19 June.

Outreach 1. Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan appeared on NHK World to

discuss the impact of United States monetary policy on Asia. [Video]

2. CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam’s paper, “How Low-Carbon Green Growth Can Reduce Inequalities,” was listed on SSRN's top ten download list for Development Economics: Macroeconomic Issues in Developing Economies eJournal.

3. Working papers published:

a. How Important Are Exports and Foreign Direct Investment for Economic Growth in the People's Republic of China? [Read more]

Fortnightly Progress Report

16 to 30 June 2013

2

b. Cross-Border Price Differentials and Goods Market Integration in East Asia [Read more]

4. Asia Pathways posts published:

a. The Emerging ACI Economies: Does a Rising Tide Lift all Boats? [Read more]

Forthcoming Events 1. Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Amitav Acharya – Power Shift or Paradigm

Shift: Asian and World Order in an Era of Rising Powers at ADBI, 1 July. [Read more]

2. Dean Kawai will:

a. Give a lecture at the School of International and Public Policy of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 3 July.

b. Participate in APEC SOM Roundtable on Connectivity Initiatives in the Asia-Pacific, Medan, Indonesia, 4 July.

c. Participate in JETRO-IDE Global Value Chains: Development and Its Influence on Trade Policies Post Symposium Workshop, Tokyo, 8 July.

3. Senior Capacity Building Economist Alladin Rillo will participate in the Greater China Conference 2013, Shanghai, 11 July.

4. CBT specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam will organize the first video conference delivery of Micro-finance Training of Trainers, 11 July.

Fortnightly Progress Report

1 to 15 July 2013

1

Highlights 1. Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Amitav Acharya – Power Shift or Paradigm

Shift: Asian and World Order in an Era of Rising Powers was held at ADBI, 1 July. [Read more]

Dean Kawai 1. Participated in APEC SOM Roundtable on Connectivity Initiatives in the Asia-

Pacific, Medan, Indonesia, 4 July.

2. Participated in JETRO-IDE Global Value Chains: Development and Its Influence on Trade Policies Post Symposium Workshop, Tokyo, 8 July.

Research 1. Paola Subacchi, Director of International Economics Research at Chatham

House in London, joined ADBI as a Visiting Research Fellow.

2. Brown Bag Lunch Seminar: Hiroyuki Ito – The Optimal Policy Combinations Based on the Trilemma and the Predictability of Crisis was held at ADBI, 10 July.

Capacity Building and Training 1. Senior Capacity Building Economist Alladin Rillo participated in the Greater

China Conference 2013, Shanghai, 11 July.

2. CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam organized the first video conference delivery of Micro-finance Training of Trainers, 11 July.

Outreach 1. Working paper by CBT Director Yuqing Xing and Manisha Pradhananga was

cited in the South China Morning Post article, “Despite Rebalancing, Exports Still Vitally Important to China.” [Read more]

2. Working papers published:

a. How Important Are Exports and Foreign Direct Investment for Economic Growth in the People's Republic of China? [Read more]

b. Negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Evaluation and Implications for East Asian Regionalism. [Read more]

3. Asia Pathways posts:

a. Why Indian Business should Embrace the RCEP [Read more]

b. RCEP and TPP: Next Stage in Asian Regionalism [Read more]

Forthcoming Events 1. Deputy Dean Jae Ha Park and CBT Economist Ha-Yan Lee will moderate the

Hitotsubashi University student term paper presentations session to be conducted at ADBI, 13 July.

2. Strengthening Policies and Practices for Low-Carbon Green Growth in Asia to be held at ADBI 16–19 July.

Fortnightly Progress Report

1 to 15 July 2013

2

3. Seminar: Masayuki Komatsu – Fisheries Management and Trade in Fishery Products in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to be held at ADBI, 18 July.

4. Brown Bag Lunch Seminar: Xiaobo Zhang – Cluster-based Industrialization in China to be held at ADBI, 23 July.

Fortnightly Progress Report

16 to 28 July 2013

1

Highlights 1. Strengthening Policies and Practices for Low-Carbon Green Growth in Asia

workshop was held at ADBI, 16–19 July. Dean Kawai delivered the welcome remarks, and ADB VP Bindu Lohani also delivered welcome remarks via video conference. Deputy Dean Jae Ha Park delivered the closing remarks.

Research 1. Seminar: Masayuki Komatsu – Fisheries Management and Trade in Fishery

Products in Southeast Asia and the Pacific was held at ADBI, 18 July.

2. Brown Bag Lunch Seminar: Xiaobo Zhang – Cluster-based Industrialization in China was held at ADBI, 23 July.

3. Donghyun Park, ADB principal economist, and Gemma Estrada, ADB economist, provided updates on the Asian Development Outlook 2013 at ADBI, 25 July.

4. NBER Japan Project Conference, jointly organized by ADBI and NBER, was held at ADBI, 26–27 July.

Capacity Building and Training 1. Deputy Dean Jae Ha Park and CBT Economist Ha-Yan Lee moderated the

Hitotsubashi University student term paper presentations session at ADBI, 24 July.

Outreach 1. CBT Director Yuqing Xing was interviewed by People's Daily on the Trans-

Pacific Partnership agreement, and he was interviewed by Mediacorp TV of Singapore on Abenomics and the outlook for the Japanese economy.

2. The ADBI–ADB book, Low-Carbon Green Growth in Asia: Policies and Practices, was published.

3. Working papers published:

a. Real Estate Valuation, Current Account, and Credit Growth Patterns Before and After the 2008–2009 Crisis [Read more]

b. Negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Evaluation and Implications for East Asian Regionalism [Read more]

4. Asia Pathways posts:

a. Few Firms in the PRC and India Use Capital Markets to Obtain Financing and Grow [Read more]

Forthcoming Events 1. Dean Kawai and Research Fellow Victor Pontines will attend the Second ADR

Conference to be held at ADB, 1–2 August.

2. Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Michael Plummer – A Vision of Global Free Trade? The New Regionalism and the 'Building Blocs' Debate to be held at ADBI, 30 July.

Fortnightly Progress Report

16 to 28 July 2013

2

3. Seminar by Juan Carlos Martinez Oliva: Can Real Exchange Rate and Relative Demand Changes Help the Eurozone? to be held at ADBI, 30 July.

4. Currency Internationalization: Lessons and Prospects for the Renminbi – Interim Workshop to be held at ADB HQ, 8 August.

5. Dean Kawai, Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja, and ADBI Research Fellow

Yothin Jinjarak will attend the Singapore Economic Review Conference to be held in Singapore, 6–8 August.

Fortnightly Progress Report

29 July to 11 August 2013

1

Highlights 1. Currency Internationalization: Lessons and Prospects for the Renminbi –

Interim Workshop was held at ADBI, 8 August. Dean Kawai gave the opening remarks and Professor Barry Eichengreen gave a presentation titled, “RMB Internationalization: What We Know and What We Don’t.”

Dean Kawai 1. Dean Kawai and Research Fellow Victor Pontines attended the Asian

Development Review conference at ADB, 1–2 August.

2. Dean Kawai signed a framework MOU in Singapore, 6 August, for research collaboration with nine major universities in Asia and Australia.

3. Dean Kawai, Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja, Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan, and Research Fellow Yothin Jinjarak, attended the Singapore Economic Review Conference in Singapore, 6–8 August.

4. Dean Kawai participated in the Japan Center for Economic Research Seminar – Barry Eichengreen: Dollar, Euro, Renminbi: The Future of the Global Financial System in Tokyo, 7 August.

Research 1. Workshop on Connectivity of South Asia and Southeast Asia, organized by

Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja and Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan, was held at ADBI, 29–30 July.

2. Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Michael Plummer – A Vision of Global Free Trade? The New Regionalism and the 'Building Blocs' Debate was held at ADBI, 30 July.

3. Seminar by Juan Carlose Martinez Oliva - Can Real Exchange Rate and Relative Demand Changes Help the Eurozone? was held at ADBI, 30 July.

4. Seminar by Paola Subacchi: Currency Internationalization—the Yen and the Yuan was held at ADBI, 9 August.

Outreach 1. CBT Specialist Venkatachalam Anbumozhi was quoted in The Nation article,

“AEC Calls for Sustainable, Green Regional Economy.” [Read more]

2. ADBI was cited in the Daily News of Tanzania article, “Microfinance Can Help Low-income Earners.”

3. Working papers published:

a. Banking Crises and "Japanization": Origins and Implications [Read more]

Forthcoming Events

1. CLMV Policy Project Forum: Developing a Competitive Seed Industry to be held in Myanmar, 26–28 August.

2. Workshop on Developing Farming Systems for Climate Change Mitigation to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26–30 August.

Fortnightly Progress Report

29 July to 11 August 2013

2

3. The 8th East Asia Conference on Competition Law and Policy and The 9th East Asia Top Level Official's Meeting on Competition Policy to be held in Manila, 28–29 August.

4. Seminar for Young Promising Researchers in Asia to be held at Ministry of Finance, 28 August.

5. Young Researchers Program on Micro and Macroeconomics to be held at ADBI, 29–30 August.

Fortnightly Progress Report

12 to 25 August 2013

1

Research 1. ADBI Visiting Fellow Hiro Ito presented at the brown bag lunch seminar on

“Optimization of the Trilemma Constraint and Its Determinants” at ADBI, 16 August. [Read more]

Capacity Building and Training 1. CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam organized the second assignment of

the 9th Microfinance Training of Trainers: A Blended Distance Learning Course, 13 August.

Outreach 1. Working Papers published:

a. An Asian Perspective on Global Financial Reforms. [Read more]

2. Asia Pathways posts published:

a. Think Tank Challenge: Surviving the Competition. [Read more]

b. Economic Integration and Trade Liberalization in South Asia [Read more]

Forthcoming Events 1. Seminar for Young Promising Researchers in Asia to be held at the Japanese

Ministry of Finance, 28 August.

2. ADBI Young Researchers Seminar on Macroeconomic and Microeconomic Issues in Development to be held at ADBI, 29–30 August. [Read more]

3. Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja will

a. make a presentation at the 8th APEC Transport Ministerial Meeting to be held in Tokyo, 4 September; and,

b. participate via videoconference in the workshop Integrating South and East Asia: An Analysis of the Economic Effects of Intensified Regional Cooperation and Integration, to be held at ADB Headquarters, 4 September.

4. CLMV Policy Project Forum: Developing a Competitive Seed Industry to be held in Myanmar, 26–30 August. [Read more]

5. Workshop on Developing Farming Systems for Climate Change Mitigation to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26–30 August. [Read more]

6. The 8th East Asia Conference on Competition Law and Policy and the 9th East Asia Top Level Officials’ Meeting on Competition Policy to be held in Manila, 28–29 August. [Read more]

7. Regional Financial Regulation in Asia, a brown bag lunch seminar by Peter Morgan, to be held at ADBI, 5 September. [Read more]

Fortnightly Progress Report

26 August to 8 September 2013

1

Highlights 1. ADBI Young Researchers Seminar on Macroeconomic and Microeconomic

Issues in Development was held at ADBI, 29–30 August. Dean Kawai delivered the opening remarks. [Read more]

Research 1. Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja

a. made a presentation at the 8th APEC Transport Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, 4 September; and,

b. participated via videoconference in the workshop, Integrating South and East Asia: An Analysis of the Economic Effects of Intensified Regional Cooperation and Integration, held at ADB HQ, 4 September.

2. Regional Financial Regulation in Asia, a brown bag lunch seminar by Senior Consultant for Research Peter Morgan, was held at ADBI, 5 September. [Read more]

3. Seminar by Professor Atsuyuki Kato: Projection of Japan's Current Account over the Next Several Decades was held at ADBI, 6 September. [Read more]

Capacity Building and Training 1. CLMV Policy Project Forum: Developing a Competitive Seed Industry was held

in Myanmar, 26–30 August. [Read more]

2. Workshop on Developing Farming Systems for Climate Change Mitigation was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26–30 August. [Read more]

3. The 8th East Asia Conference on Competition Law and Policy and the 9th East Asia Top Level Officials’ Meeting on Competition Policy were held in Manila, 28–29 August. [Read more]

4. CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam organized the third session of the 9th Microfinance Training of Trainers: A Blended Distance Learning Course, 2 September. [Read more]

5. CBT Director Yuqing Xing delivered a keynote speech at the second GRIPS student conference in Tokyo, 5 September.

Forthcoming Events 1. Dean Kawai will attend

a. Pacific Trade Agenda: Implications for the Western Hemisphere to be held in Washington, DC, 10 September;

b. Nomura Foundation Macro Economy Research Conference to be held in Washington, DC, 11 September;

c. New Directions in Macroeconomic Policy Coordination workshop to be held in Washington, DC, 12 September;

d. German–Japanese Young Leaders Forum 2013 to be held in Tokyo, 16 September;

Fortnightly Progress Report

26 August to 8 September 2013

2

e. International Conference on Economic Theory and Policy after the Crisis to be held at Meiji University, Tokyo, 16 September; and

a. Bank of America Merrill Lynch conference, Japan Rising, to be held in Tokyo, 17 September.

2. CLMV Project Training Program on Agricultural Reforms and Productivity in CLMV Countries to be held in Suzhou, PRC, 9–13 September. [Read more]

3. Conference on Governance and Development: Views from G20 Countries to be held in Delhi, 17–19 September.

4. Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja will make a presentation at the Asian Trade Strategies: Regional and Global Trade Arrangements conference to be held at Australian National University, Canberra, 18 September.

5. ADBI Advisory Council Meeting to be held at ADB HQ, 25–26 September.

6. High-level policy dialog meeting on the ADBI study, Connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia, to be held at ADB HQ, 26 September.

Fortnightly Progress Report

9–22 September 2013

1

Highlights

1. Dean Kawai took part in the Nomura Foundation Macro Economy Research Conference held in Washington, DC, 11 September.

Dean Kawai

1. Dean Kawai attended

a. Pacific Trade Agenda: Implications for the Western Hemisphere, in Washington, DC, 10 September;

b. New Directions in Macroeconomic Policy Coordination workshop, in Washington, DC, 12 September;

c. German–Japanese Young Leaders Forum 2013, in Tokyo, 16 September;

d. International Conference on Economic Theory and Policy after the Crisis, at Meiji University, Tokyo, 16 September; and

e. Bank of America Merrill Lynch conference, Japan Rising, in Tokyo, 17 September.

Deputy Dean Jae-Ha Park

1. Gave a presentation at the 30th Asian Bankers Association General Meeting and Conference, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 12–13 September. [Read more]

2. Attended the World Economic Forum Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 14–15 September. [Read more]

3. Served as chair and as a panelist in two sessions at the Conference on Governance and Development: Views from G20 Countries, Delhi, 17–19 September.

Research

1. Research Director Ganeshan Wignaraja made a presentation at the Asian Trade Strategies: Regional and Global Trade Arrangements conference hosted by Australian National University, Canberra, 18 September. [Read more]

Capacity Building and Training

1. CLMV Project Training Program on Agricultural Reforms and Productivity in CLMV Countries was held in Suzhou, PRC, 9–13 September. [Read more]

Outreach

1. The ADBI book, Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific – How Can Countries Adapt? was reviewed by Current Science. [Read more]

2. Asia Pathways posts published a. Banking Crises and ‘Japanization’: Origins and Implications [Read more]

3. Working Papers published

Fortnightly Progress Report

9–22 September 2013

2

a. Financial Health and Firm Productivity: Firm-level Evidence from Viet Nam [Read more]

Forthcoming Events

1. ADBI Advisory Council Meeting to be held at ADB HQ, 25–26 September.

2. High-level policy dialog meeting on the ADBI study, Connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia, to be held at ADB HQ, 26 September.

3. Viet Nam Policy Forum, National Review Seminar, and Country Consultations, to be held in Hanoi, 3–4 October.

Fortnightly Progress Report

23 September to 6 October 2013

1

Highlights 1. ADBI Advisory Council Meeting was held at ADB HQ, 25–26 September.

Dean Kawai 1. Dean Kawai attended:

a. Asia Matters: 3rd EU Asia Top Economist Round Table in Tokyo, 27 September;

b. The Advisory Group on APEC Financial System Capacity-Building, Bali, 3 October;

c. PECC–Boao Forum: Bali Conference, 3 October; and

d. ADB–IPAG Meeting, Bali,4 October.

2. Dean Kawai was cited in a China Business Network article on quantitative easing.

Research 1. High-level policy dialog meeting on the ADBI study, Connecting South Asia and

Southeast Asia, was held at ADB HQ, 26 September.

2. Deputy Dean Park presented at a seminar organized by the Korea National Research Council in Seoul, 30 September.

Capacity Building and Training 1. Viet Nam Policy Forum, National Review Seminar, and Country Consultations,

was held in Hanoi, 3–4 October

2. CBT Specialist Anbumozhi Venkatachalam reviewed the last assignments of the 9th Microfinance Training of Trainers: A Blended Distance Learning Course, 24–28 September. [Read more]

Outreach 1. Working Papers published:

a. Exchange Rate Policy and Regional Trade Agreements: A Case of Conflicted Interests? [Read more]

b. Monetary Policy Frameworks in Asia: Experience, Lessons, and Issues. [Read more]

Forthcoming Events 1. International Financial Reporting Standards and the Regional Development in

Asia to be held in Shanghai, PRC, 15–19 October.

2. Strengthening Policies and Practices for Low-Carbon Green Growth in South Asia and Central Asia to be held in Bangalore, India, 17–19 October. [Read more]

Fortnightly Progress Report

16 December 2013 to 5 January 2014

1

Deputy Dean Park 1. Deputy Dean Park attended the G20 Seoul Conference, 17–20 December.

[Read more]

Research 1. Seminar by Shiro Armstrong: TPP, RCEP, and the Outlook for Regional

Economic Integration was held at ADBI, 17 December. [Read more]

2. Seminar by Kenichi Kawasaki: Relative Significance of Economic Partnership Agreements in the Asia and Pacific Region was held at ADBI, 20 December. [Read more]

Outreach 1. Media coverage:

a. Dean Kawai appeared on Bloomberg TV [watch interview] and Channel News Asia TV (Singapore). And he was quoted in the Reuters article “Abenomics Scorecard: 'A' for Early Initiative, 'C' for Follow-through.” [Read more]

2. Asia Pathways posts published

a. Abenomics: Progress, Prospects and How the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Can Help Solve Japan’s Debt Problem [Read more]

b. Where Should the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations Go Next? [Read more]

3. Working papers published:

a. The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Looking Ahead to the Next Steps [Read more]

Forthcoming Events 1. Brown Bag Lunch Seminar by Yothin Jinjarak: Trade Gravity for Economies in

Transition: How Remotely Are Central Asia and South Asia in Comparison to Southeast Asia? to be held at ADBI, 10 January. [Read more]