Bøger af Asian Development Bank

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 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.

Bhutan has carried out early and decisive measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including restrictions on tourists since March 2020. This approach, though effective, severely affected the economy, bringing the tourism and aviation sectors to a virtual standstill. Given Bhutan's limited resources and capacity to cope with a full-blown outbreak, such a trade-off was inevitable. This policy brief assesses the Government of Bhutan's financial relief measures extended to the most affected people, as well as investment programs and other interventions, with a special focus on the tourism sector.

Globally, women are disproportionately impacted by climate change and disasters due to gender inequalities and limited opportunities to participate in decision-making processes. To help address this imbalance, this publication provides guidance on how to integrate gender equality in laws and policies on climate change and disaster management in developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank. It provides a conceptual framework and good practice guide based on international norms and examples of national laws. It also demonstrates how gender-responsive laws and policies can contribute to women's resilience to climate change and disasters. The publication was developed for the use of governments, policy-makers, organizations, and individuals engaged in gender-responsive legislative reforms.

Tajikistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Transport plays an essential role for ensuring connectivity and facilitating movement of goods and people within the country and along borders shared with its neighbors in the region. This publication provides an overview of the transport sector in Tajikistan, along with major development constraints, the government's strategies and plans, and assistance provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners. The publication serves as a basis for dialogues on ADB's future collaboration with the Government of Tajikistan to promote the transport sector's development effectively in the coming years.

This cloud audit toolkit is designed to support the work of financial regulators in developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank. It aims to assist and accelerate the uptake of cloud computing technologies and digital tools to improve the efficiency and efficacy of financial regulators' work processes. Drawing on existing practices observed by leading regulators from across the globe, the toolkit provides a comprehensive framework for improving supervisory work processes. It also includes a checklist to help regulators conduct an initial review of their existing oversight mechanisms.

The economies of Bangladesh and India are driven by fast-growing bilateral trade. The efficient movement of goods between the two countries is essential to their economic growth. However, inefficient procedures at land crossings, paired with infrastructure constraints on both sides of the border, inflate the time and costs of conducting trade. This study examines some of the key bottlenecks to trade on land between Dhaka and Kolkata, and provides recommendations on how to address them. Reducing traffic congestion along the major routes, and improving facilities and clearance procedures at the border crossings can significantly improve trade between Bangladesh and India, and contribute to more robust economic growth across the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation zone as a whole.

Rapid globalization and digitalization have transformed the financial landscape of ASEAN+3-the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Despite impressive reforms, the region faces continued challenges. These include deepening corporate bond markets, coping with cross-border bank concentration risk, reducing dependence on the United States dollar, achieving sustainable infrastructure investments, addressing pension issues, and supporting fintech development. This edited volume highlights the potential for stronger regional financial cooperation to address such challenges. It explores how regional financial cooperation could promote greater financial resilience and stability amid rapid economic and financial development and technological change.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the vital role of financial inclusion in supporting resilience and economic recovery among the most vulnerable populations in Asia and the Pacific. This publication identifies financial inclusion priorities to stimulate economic recovery and explores the challenges and opportunities of accelerated digital transformation. It proposes recommendations to aid policy makers and regulators. The publication shares insights from the 2021 Asia-Pacific Financial Inclusion Forum, a policy initiative of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Process. It was prepared in collaboration with the APEC Business Advisory Council, the Asian Development Bank Institute, and the Foundation for Development Cooperation.

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Asian Development Bank's Administrative Tribunal, this publication presents essays written by judges and international experts in labor mediation and arbitration. Among the main topics covered are reflections on key decisions made by the Administrative Tribunal, strengthening the internal justice system, and reliefs and remedies. The publication also looks back on the history of the Administrative Tribunal, along with its commitment to being independent, just, and accessible-as key to lasting industrial peace.

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.

This publication presents findings from a study that analyzes trends in the demand and supply of skills in Indonesia's electricity sector. The study explores the sector's labor needs in terms of skill type, quantity, and location. It compares these needs with what skills are available, and at what level, to identify gaps. The study provides recommendations for skills providers, industries, and the government on how to improve partnerships among those actors to address the gaps. This publication is timely given the electricity sector's crucial role in Indonesia's development as the country experiences rapid changes due to technology and innovation.