ADB On Improving Infrastructure Among Asian Countries To Boost Economy

Jakarta, April 15 (Antara) - The Asian development Bank (ADB) has called on Asian countries to improve regional connectivity in order to boost the economy and people`s welfare, according to a press release from ADB received here on Tuesday. According to the statement, ADB will discuss the infrastructure issue during the 47th Annual Meeting of its Board of Governors meeting to be held at Astana, Kazakhstan from May 2 to 5. The meeting will have participation from about 3 thousand people namely finance ministers, central bank governors, business leaders, investors, journalists, and civil society representatives from across the world. The theme of the 2014 Annual Meeting is `The Silk Road - Connecting Asia with the Changing World. Discussions on the link between improved regional connectivity and higher growth in Central Asia and beyond will feature prominently at the gathering. For the first time, the meeting will feature a TV debate among high-profile speakers. International broadcaster CNBC will host the debate on Asia's economic outlook. The midterm review of ADB's Strategy 2020 will be the key topic of discussion. The Governor's Seminar will focus on the lessons learned from recent financial crises and reducing economic and financial vulnerability in the region. Leveraging fiscal policy to promote more inclusive growth, based on the theme chapter of the recent Asian Development Outlook 2014, will also be highlighted. Ideas for a post-2015 development agenda that extends beyond the Millennium Development Goals will also be discussed in Astana. Highlights of the new ADB study on Asia's knowledge economies will be presented, with a particular focus on the region's investments in innovation, Internet connectivity, education, and vocational training. A session on public-private partnerships (PPPs) will explore preferred models of PPPs, how to attract private and institutional investors, identify constraints that prevent successful PPPs, and discuss how organizations such as ADB can help bridge the "bankability gap".