Eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum. The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a key sponsor of the Eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF), which will be held on August 27-28, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The forum aims to address regional climate challenges by fostering collaborations for policy recommendations and joint research.

With the theme “The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action,” the forum will focus on global climate governance, balancing economic growth with carbon reduction, and innovative climate finance solutions. Participants will engage in meaningful policy discourse to identify solutions for a climate-resilient region, explore joint research opportunities, and facilitate innovative climate studies beyond mainstream agendas.

The ADB’s involvement underscores its commitment to sustainable and inclusive development in the region. By supporting the CTTDF, the ADB is contributing to the development of innovative climate solutions that can help the region adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Agenda

TimeSession
8:30 am – 9:00 amRegistration
9:00 am – 09:30 amSession I: Opening Ceremony

Welcome Remarks by Mr. Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute
Opening Address by Mr. Yang Yingming, Vice President, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila, Philippines (TBC)
Keynote Address by Minister of National Economy, Kazakhstan (TBC)
Group Photo
09:30 am – 10:40 amSession II: Context Setting


  • Assessing the impact of Climate Initiatives: Progress, Pitfalls and Lessons Learned. Johannes F. Linn, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development Program, Brookings Institution, Washington D.C., USA (TBC)
  • Climate change, and adaption and mitigation technologies, call for focused think-tank cooperation. Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CAREC Institute
  • Pathways to Sustainable Development: Achieving High Economic Growth While Minimizing Carbon Footprints. Norbert Funke, Director IMF CCAMTAC, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Open Discussion
Moderator: Lyaziza Sabyrova, Regional Head, Regional Cooperation and Integration, Asian Development Bank
10:40 am – 11:00 amCoffee
11:00 am – 12:50 pmSession III: Asia in the Global Fight Against Climate Change: Capturing Sub-regional Perspectives

  • ASEAN’s Path to Net Zero: Policy Framework, Supporting Initiatives, and the Pathway. Ms. Marthe M. Hinojales, Senior Economist, Regional Surveillance, ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), Singapore
  • Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): Enhancing Synergies and Subregional Cooperation for Climate Resilient and Net Zero Development. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director, Mekong Institute, Thailand
  • CAREC Region’s Climate Vulnerabilities: Policy Options for a Sustainable Future. Iskandar Abdullaev, IWMI (International Water Management Institute) Country Representative for Pakistan
  • Decarbonizing Global Value Chains in CAREC: Impact of the EU’s CBAM on CAREC Economies. Altynay Arapova, Economist, Regional Cooperation and Integration, Asian Development Bank
  • Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) in the CAREC Region: Need for a Regional Framework for Sustainable Extraction. Roman Vakulchuk, Head of Climate and Energy Research Group
    Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Oslo, Norway
  • CAREC Climate Change Action Plan: Integrating Climate Change into CAREC Program Themes. Khalid Umar, Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRC, ADB

Open Discussion
Moderator: Mr. Sergei Ulatov, Deputy-Managing Director, EFSD”
12:50 pm – 2:00 pmSession IV: CTTN Research Grants Program (RGP) Presentations: From Ideas to Impact: Accelerating Climate Solutions through Innovative Development

  • Innovative Perspectives: Exploring Opportunities in Emissions Trading Systems for CAREC Countries. Giorgi Khishtovani, Research Director, PMC Research Center, Georgia
  • Climate Change in Kazakhstan: State Policy and Public Awareness. Azimzhan Khitakhunov, Senior Research Fellow, Eurasian Research Institute of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Turkish-Kazakh University, Kazakhstan
  • Optimizing Financial Architecture by Overcoming Challenges to Implement Emission Trading Mechanisms in the CAREC Region. Ummara Razi, Lecturer and Research Associate, ILMA University, Pakistan
  • Designing Policy Support for Climate-smart Trade in the CAREC Region. Hadiqa Tanveer, Lecturer, Bahria Business School, Pakistan
  • Carbon Pricing in Central Asia: Opportunities and Barriers: The Case of the Kyrgyz Republic. Aijan Sharshenova, Executive Director, Crossroads Central Asia, Kyrgyz Republic

Open Discussion
Moderator: Dr. Siddarth Saxena, Chairman, Cambridge Central Asia Forum, UK
2:00 pm – 3:00 pmLunch @ Ballroom
3:00 pm – 4:10 pmSession V: Innovative Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

  • Technological Disparity: Bridging the Gap Between Advanced and Developing Economies. Dr. Xianchun Tan, professor of Institutes of Science and Development, vice-director of the Center for Carbon Neutrality Strategy, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASISD)
  • Scalable Solutions I: Greening Economic Corridors, Production, and Trade. Mr. Kumar Utsav, Country Director, ADB Kazakhstan Resident Mission
  • Scalable Solutions II: Green Hydrogen: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy. Ms. Dina Azhgaliyeva, ADBI
  • Developing Innovation Ecosystem: Impact of the Made in China 2025 Industrial Strategy on Green Innovation. Dr. Asif Razzaq, Senior Researcher, CAREC Institute

Open Discussion
Moderator: Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CAREC Institute”
4:10 – 4:30Coffee @ Foyer
4:30 pm – 6:00Session VI: Local Solutions for Climate Resilience

  • Azerbaijan Case Study. Vusala Jafarova, Chief Advisor at the Strategic Planning Division, Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), Azerbaijan
  • China Case Study. Li Cangshu, Associate Research Fellow and Coordinator of the “Dual Carbon” Project, Center for International Knowledge on Development, China
  • Mongolia Case Study. Tuvshintugs Batdelger, Director, Economic Research Institute, Mongolia
  • Tajikistan Case Study. Jahongir Dehkonov, Director of PO “Fund for Poverty Reduction
  • Turkmenistan Case Study. Mr. Jumamuhammet Geldiyev, Senior Specialist, Division for Financial Analysis of Agro-Industrial Complex, Department for Development and Financing of Economic Sectors
  • Uzbekistan Case Study. Ezoz Ozodov, Manager of the Innovation Cluster for Sustainable Development, “TIIAME” National Research University, Uzbekistan

Open Discussion
Moderator: TBC (AIIB or Craig)”
TimeSession
9:00 am – 9:30 amRegistration
9:30 am – 11:00Session VII: Fixing Climate Finance

  • Bridging Sustainable Financing Gap: Role of Development Partners, Governments, Regulators and Private Finance Entities. Subathirai Sivakumaran, Chief of Section, Financing for Development
  • Section, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Thailand
  • Financial Solutions to Close the Investment Gap in the Drinking Water and Sanitation Infrastructure of Central Asia. Arman Ahunbaev, Head of the Centre for Infrastructure and Industrial Research, Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), Kazakhstan
  • Scaling up private climate finance: drivers, impediments, and solutions. Shu (Grace) Tian, Senior Economist, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB
  • Financial Innovation: Startups and Financing Green Technologies in the CAREC Region. Ms. Xiaojing Fei, Co-host of Impact Hub Asia-Pacific

Open Discussion
Moderator: Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, Principal Country Specialist, ADB”
11:00 am – 11:20Coffee @ Foyer
11:20 am – 12:30 pmSession VIII: CAREC Think Tank Voices

Panel Discussion on Navigating Political and Business Landscape: Achieving Financial Sustainability and Fostering Institutional Growth

  • Suat Beylur, Director, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan
  • Abid Suleri, Executive Director/Advisory Council Committee Member of COP29, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan
  • Mr. Shahin Sadiqov, Director, Economic Scientific Research Institute, Azerbaijan
  • Mariam Lobjanidze, Acting Lead Economist, ISET Policy Institute, Georgia
  • Dr. Indira Satarkulova, Acting Director, OSCE Academy in Bishkek

Open Discussion
Moderator: Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director II, CAREC Institute”
12:30 pm – 1:00 pmCTTN Progress Report

CTTN Progress and Initiatives by the Secretariat
Dilraba Adil, Planning Specialist, CAREC Institute

Suggestions and Feedback on CTTN
Moderator: (From CI or Khalid)
1:00 pm – 1:10 pmClosing Reflections and Acknowledgements by Dr. Jingjing Huang, Deputy Director, CAREC Institute
1:10 pm – 2:30 pmLunch

4th CAREC Institute Annual Research Conference

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is proud to support the 4th Annual Research Conference of the CAREC Institute (CI), themed “Rethinking Development Strategies: Green, Innovative, and Inclusive Development for the CAREC Region.” This conference, co-organized by the College of Social Sciences and the China & Central Asia Studies Center at KIMEP University, along with the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), will take place on August 29-30, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The ADB’s involvement underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive development in the CAREC region.

The primary objective of the conference is to connect research and policymaking, fostering regional development by systematically documenting policy-oriented research and creating narratives specific to the CAREC region. The event will showcase research findings, discuss their policy implications, and culminate in the publication of selected research in CI’s Annual Book and relevant journals.

By addressing regional developmental challenges, proposing innovative policy recommendations, and enhancing regional research cooperation, the conference aims to improve policy relevance and impact across the CAREC region. Comprehensive materials, including session details, speaker biographies, and presentation summaries, will be provided to all participants.

We look forward to your participation in this important event.

Agenda

TimeSession
9.15–10.00Registration/CI Video to be screened
10.00–11.00OPENING SESSION

Opening Remarks
Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute (CI)
Damian Riviez, Vice President of Academic Affairs, KIMEP University
Kadir Basboga, Senior Regional Integration& Trade Promotion Economist, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

Keynote address
Johannes F. Linn, Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

Group Photo
11.00–11.30Coffee break
11.30–13.00Parallel Session I: Energy/Renewable Energy/Sustainable Energy
Hall #1, 2nd floor


Moderator
Vladislav Zavadskiy, Senior Energy Expert, CI

Speakers:
  • Burulcha Sulaimanova, Dina Azhgaliyeva, Hans Holzhacker “House insulation: needs and willingness in Central Asia”
  • Qiong Zhang, Dina Azhgaliyeva “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks: Total Cost of Ownership Analysis for the People’s Republic of China”
  • Ubaid ur Rehman Zia, Mahnoor Arshad, Zainab Babar “Sustainable Energy Transition in South Asia: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities through Regional Collaboration”
  • Hu Sheng, “PhotoSynthetic Refining: heavy oil slurry bed hydro-splitting full conversion technology”
  • Ramil Shakirov, “Electrical Digital Twin: Enabling Safety & Sustainability for today & future”, Schneider Electric

Discussant:
Ramil Shakirov, Head of the Training Center, Schneider Electric
Parallel Session II: Green Initiatives/Climate and Environment

Moderator
Asif Razzaq, Senior Research Specialist, CI

Speakers:
  • Falendra Kumar “Unlocking Innovative Governance Practices and Public-Private Financing for Achieving Sustainable Green Energy Transition in the CAREC Region: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications”
  • Hua Wang, Yingqing Lai, Yixin Yao “How Factors Affect Carbon Emission Price: Case Study of Beijing Carbon Emission Market”
  • Iskandar Abdullaev, Shakhboz Akhmedov “Water Security in Central Asia – Adaptation Strategies for Climate Resilience”
  • Ding Chen, “Dynamic connectedness between FDI, economic activity, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) countries: The mediating role of institutional quality”
  • Naseem Faraz, Ghulam Samad “Climate Debt and Sustainability: Implication for CAREC Region”
  • Anton Merkulov, “Smart integration of renewable power generation as a key factor of green initiatives implementation”, Siemens Kazakhstan

Discussant:
Shu (Grace) Tian, Senior Economist, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB
Parallel Session III: Trade/Connectivity/CorridorsTrade/Connectivity/Corridors

Moderator
Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI

Speakers:
  • Yinghao He, Yueshu Zhao “The Economic Shadow of CBAM: Assessing Trade Impacts on Central Asia and the South Caucasus
  • Farrukh Khakimov “Digital Readiness of Central Asian States for Cross-Border Paperless Trade: A Study on Digital Infrastructure and Regional Connectivity”
  • Qaisar Abbas “Digital Trade, Economic Corridors Development: Need for Innovative Strategies”
  • Ali Raza Hanjra “Enhancing Port Competitiveness and Regional Trade in Pakistan along the CAREC Corridor: Role of the Government Support”

Discussant:
Xiaotong Zhang, Academic Director at China and Central Asia Studies Center (CCASC)
13.00–14.00Lunch
14:00–15.30Parallel Session IV: Inequality and Inclusivity

Moderator
Ilhom Abdulloev, Chief of Capacity Building Division, CI

Speakers:
  • Kuat Akizhanov “Addressing Socio-Economic Inequality in the CAREC Region: Why Non-Orthodox Approach Is Needed”
  • Kaliyeva Saule, Elvira Buitek “Competencies and Skills Essential for Green Jobs”
  • Emmanuel Umoru Haruna, Vincent Tawiah “Does Income Inequality endanger Green growth? Evidence from selected countries in Asia and the Global South”
  • Adeel Kadri “Breaking Chains: Informal Employment in CAREC and Escaping the Middle-Income Trap”
  • Madina Junussova, Saniya Soltybaeva, Bakhytzhan Kurmanov “Urban Economic Resilience in Central Asian Cities”


Discussant:
Alma Kudebayeva, KIMEP University
Parallel Session V: ADB-PRC RKSI
Evidence from the CAREC Corridor Performance Measurement and Monitoring Database


Moderator
Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, Principal Country Specialist, East Asia Department, ADB

Speakers:

  • Kijin Kim “The Impact of COVID-19 Mobility Restrictions on Trade Facilitation at Borders in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Region”
  • Dorothea Ramizo “Impact of Non-Tariff Measures and Border Crossing Time and Costs on Trade in Perishable Goods in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Region”
  • Kamalbek Karymshakov “Trade Facilitation, Infrastructure, and International Trade in Central Asian Countries”
  • Ghulam Samad “Geographical Proximity and Trade Impacts in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program Region”

Discussant:
Max Ee, CPMM consultant
Parallel Session VI: Innovation/innovative solutions

Moderator
Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CI

Speakers:
  • Abylaikhan Soltanayev “Living Labs as Catalysts for Sustainable Energy Transition in Central Asia”
  • Kinza Malik “Modelling the Effect of FDI on Economic Growth in Central Asia: The Role of Digitalization”
  • Asif Razzaq “Does Artificial Intelligence Improve Green Transformation? Mechanism Analysis of China’s A-share Listed Companies and Implications for CAREC Ladder Countries”
  • Merdan Yazyyev “Innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises with a focus on energy efficiency, renewables, and digitalization”
  • Liu Bingcai “Evaluation of the Co-benefits and Trade-offs of Solar+ Projects and Their Prospects for Application in the CAREC Region”
  • Michiko Enomoto “Fostering Innovation and Development in Central Asia”

Discussant:
Nurgali Rakhmanov, President “Digital Society” NGO, S/GPP Policy Expert
15.30–16.00Coffee break
16.00–17.30Panel Session: Rethinking Development Strategies: Green, Innovative, and Inclusive Development for the CAREC region

  • Soo Hyun Kim, The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
  • Kadir Basboga, Senior Regional Integration & Trade Promotion Economist, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
  • Nadeem Naqvi, Professor of Economics, KIMEP University
    Marthe M. Hinojales, Senior Economist, AMRO+
  • Jang Ping Thia, Lead Economist and Manager of Economics Department
    Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
TimeSession
10.00–10.10Special Session
Introduction of the CAREC Institute Knowledge Products

  • Jingjing Huang, Deputy Director, CI
  • Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director, CI
10.10–10.30CI’s Book Launch “PROSPECTS FOR INCLUSIVE GREEN GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CAREC REGION”
  • Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director, CI
  • Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI
10.30–11.00CI and UNESCAP Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation Report Launch
  • Soo Hyun Kim, The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
  • Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI

Joint CAREC-PRC and Second ASEAN-PRC Digital Economy Workshop: Empowering Digital Future

The global economy is rapidly changing, driven by emerging technologies that promote resource efficiency, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. Digital technologies play a crucial role in this transformation, offering solutions to challenges like poverty, healthcare, job creation, and environmental protection. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital tools, demonstrating their potential to connect people and businesses even in crises.

The CAREC region, however, faces significant challenges in harnessing the benefits of the digital economy due to inadequate digital infrastructure and unclear regulations. To address these issues, the CAREC Secretariat, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and partnering with the CAREC Institute and UNESCAP, developed the CAREC Digital Strategy 2030. This strategy serves as a roadmap for accelerating digital transformation and unlocking the region’s potential.

The CAREC Institute, with support from ADB and other organizations, has conducted research and engaged policymakers in dialogues on digitalization. Recognizing the importance of digital economy, the People’s Republic of China has made significant strides, with its digital economy value reaching 6.5 trillion US dollars by 2021.

To further promote digital economy in the CAREC region, the CAREC Institute will collaborate with ADB, the CAREC Secretariat, and Chinese government entities to launch a capacity building program aimed at enhancing digital economy cooperation and promoting digital connectivity. This initiative aligns with the CAREC Digital Strategy’s vision and mission, seeking to equip member countries with the necessary tools and knowledge to realize the full potential of the digital economy for inclusive economic growth, social well-being, and enhanced regional competitiveness.

Agenda

20 May (Monday)
MorningOpening Ceremony
  • Zhoushan Jianghong, Vice President of Zhejiang University
  • Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute (Online)
  • Shuzhong Ma, Dean and Distinguished Qiu Shi Professor of the China Academy of Digital Trade at Zhejiang University

Moderator: Gong Sen, Director, Center for International Studies on Development and Governance (CiSDG), Zhejiang University
CAREC Digital Strategy 2030 (Online)
Dorothea Lazaro, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist, ADB Central and West Asia Department

CAREC Digital Economy Development: challenges and policy recommendations
Rovshan Mahmudov, Senior Capacity Building Specialist, CAREC Institute
AfternoonPractice and Pathway in China’s Development of Digital Economy
Yuezhou Cai, Director and Researcher of the Digital Economy Research Office, Institute of Quantitative & Technical Economics at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
NightIce-breaking:

  • Participants will introduce themselves, express their expectations on the Workshop and raise their questions concerning digital economy.
  • Participants will be grouped, and each group will prepare for delivering a presentation on Day 12.
21 May (Tuesday)
MorningOn-site:
Zhejiang’s Information and Communication Infrastructure Construction
China Mobile (Zhejiang) Innovation Research Institute

China’s Information and Communication Infrastructure Construction: History and Experience
Jun Lei, Senior Project Expert and Senior Engineer of the Smart Home Operations Centre and Integrated Communication Systems Department of China Mobile Ltd
AfternoonThe Application of Metaverse Technology in the Digital Economy Era
Xuguang Zhang, President of the Zhejiang Association for Science, Technology and Innovation, Distinguished Researcher of the Intelligent Education Research Centre at Zhejiang University
NightThe New Generation of Artificial Intelligence: from AlphaGo to ChatGPT
Fei Wu, Director and Qiu Shi Distinguished Professor of Institute of Artificial Intelligence at Zhejiang University
22 May (Wednesday)
MorningOn-site:
Evolution towards Intelligent Education Transformation
Xianghu Future School and Hailiang Limited Co., Ltd.
AfternoonOn-site:
Metaverse Technology, Digital Collectibles and Global Distribution of Digital Content
Zhejiang Zoland Animation Co., Ltd.
NightPractices, Experiences and Challenges in the Development of Digital Economy in Asian, CAREC and ASEAN Economies
Yoonee Jeong, Senior Digital Tech Specialist (Digital Infra & Economy), Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD), ADB
23 May (Thursday)
MorningOn-site:
Cloud Computing: Current Landscape and Future Directions – From Emulation to Innovation
Alibaba Cloud Computing Co., Ltd. – Hangzhou Branch
AfternoonIntelligent Transformation of Manufacturing Industry
Wenge Liu, Dean and Professor of the School of International Economics and Politics at Liaoning University
24 May (Friday)
MorningOn-site:
3D+AI Tools for Propelling the Global Fashion Industry’s Digital and Innovative Evolution
Zhejiang Linctex Digital Technology Ltd.(Style3D)
AfternoonExemplary Cases of Intelligent System Design
Yongchuan Tang, Deputy Director of China Digital Creative Technology Equipment Innovation Industrial Alliance, Professor of the School of Computer Science and Technology at Zhejiang University
NightNetworking:
Global Digital Economic Cooperation, Digital Economic Development Opportunities and Digital Technology Solutions

(Arranged by the World Digital Economy Forum (WDEF), Hangzhou Digital Ecological Building and representative enterprises in the area of digital technology solutions)
25 May (Saturday)
DaytimeDigital Economy-focused Industry Tour to Shaoxing:
Enterprise Digital Transformation, Rural Livestream E-commerce and Traditional Culture
Zhejiang Toman Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd——Lunch——China Pearls and Jewelry International City——The China Shaoxing Wine Museum——Dinner
(Arranged by Shaoxing Council of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Shaoxing Chamber of International Commerce and representative enterprises in Shaoxing)
26 May (Sunday)
Off
27 May (Monday)
MorningDigitalization of Government Services for a Better Business Environment in China: A Case Study on the Reform Experience of Zhejiang Province
Wenting Wei, Private Sector Specialist, World Bank in China

The Construction Process of Digitalization of Government Services in Zhejiang
Yongsheng Shen, General Manager of Zhejiang Daily Digital Technology (Zhejiang) Co.,Ltd., General Manager of Hangzhou City Brain Co.,Ltd.
AfternoonOn-site:
Zhejiang’s Practice in Building a Digital Government: Hangzhou City Brain

Zhejiang’s Practice in Intelligent Industrial Transformation: Zhejiang Top Cloud-agri Technology Co., Ltd
28 May (Tuesday)
MorningSustainable Social Innovation and Governance of Digital Divide
Lijie Fang, Professor of the School of Social Research at the Renmin University of China
AfternoonConstructing Rules for an Opened Global Digital Economy System
Xianhai Huang, Changjiang Distinguished Professor and Vice President of Zhejiang University
NightNetworking:
Integration and Cooperation of Asian Civilisations in the Digital Age
(Arranged by Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS) and the International Campus of Zhejiang University)
29 May (Wednesday)
MorningFinancial Innovation in the Context of Digitalization – Micro Connect: The Wall Street for SMEs
Zhong Wu, Secretary-General of the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation, Senior Advisor of Micro Connect and Chairman of Hong Kong Oriental Patron Financial Group
AfternoonNetworking:
Global Trade of Cultural Goods and Services in the Digital Era
(Arranged by the 20th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF), Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone and representative enterprises in the area of international cultural goods and services)
NightOn-site:
Digital Industry Investment and Live Streaming Economy
30 May (Thursday)
MorningOn-site:
Zhejiang’s Footprint in E-commerce: A Dive into the Corporate Ecosystem and Development Experiences
1688.com and Taobao of Alibaba Group
AfternoonDigital Transformation, Global FinTech Trends & Opportunities for Emerging Markets
Shenglin Ben, Dean and Professor of the International Business School, Director of the Fintech Research Institute at Zhejiang University
NightNetworking:
(Arranged by Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS), the International Campus of Zhejiang University and representative enterprises in Jiaxing)
31 May (Friday)
MorningExperiences and Practices in the Development of Digital Economy in CAREC and ASEAN Economies, Insights from the Workshop and Suggestions
Group Reports by the Workshop Participants
AfternoonConcluding Session and Commencement of the Workshop
Sen Gong, Director and Professor of the Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance at Zhejiang and Zhejiang University (CiSDG)
NightClosing Ceremony
  • Sen Gong, Director and Professor of the Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance at Zhejiang and Zhejiang University (CiSDG)
  • Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, Principal Country Specialist, East Asia Department, ADB
  • Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director Two, CAREC Institute ASEAN Secretariat
1 June (Saturday)
DaytimeDigital Economy-focused Industry Tour to Yiwu
  • Participants will explore the Zhejiang China Commodities City Group Co., Ltd., and other digital economy infrastructure projects.
  • Participants will also explore the eWTP Public Service Platform and the integrated online-offline services of the China Goods digital trade platform to gain insights into the opportunities and challenges that Yiwu’s procurement and trade industry faces in the digital era.
2 June (Sunday)
Off

East Asia Forum 2024

This year’s East Asia Forum (EAF) will explore ways the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and ADB can foster partnerships in addressing regional challenges related to climate change with a special interest in promoting global and regional public goods in ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs).

The Forum has four sessions. The first explores strategic ways the PRC and ADB can further evolve their partnership in tackling regional challenges including climate change. The second and third focus on two critical parts of climate as public goods and explore best practices for promoting them. Specifically, Session 2 focuses on nature conservation and ecosystem protection, and how instruments like nature-debt swaps can be a viable financing instrument to help DMCs meet their commitments to conserve 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. Session 3 centers on addressing climate mitigation through accelerating the energy transition from fossil fuel powered energy to clean energy, drawing on international practices related to energy policy, investments, and transition financing. The fourth session discusses how artificial intelligence can support addressing regional challenges. Specifically, it looks at emerging best practices in strategy, policy, and regulation to enhance the potential benefits of AI while mitigating its potential costs.   

Each session will comprise a keynote speaker setting the context and regional challenges and followed by an interactive panel discussion comprising of distinguished experts.

In addition to the four sessions, ADB will also launch its publication “Echoes of Success: Case Studies in the Replication of Asian Development Bank Projects in the People’s Republic of China“. The report presents five ADB-financed projects in the PRC that have been replicated within and outside the PRC.

Venue: Grand Ballroom 2, Kerry Hotel, 1 Guang Hua Road, Beijing.

Register via Zoom.

Browse the program and biographies here

Download the presentations here

Agenda

Date/TimeSession
8.30-9.00Registration
9.00-9.15Opening Messages

Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), ADB
Weihua Liu, Executive Director, ADB
9.15-10.451. The PRC and ADB Partnership for the Asia and Pacific Region

Chair: Guan Xin, Anchor and Chief Editor, Business News Department, China Global Television Network (CGTN)

Presentation:
ADB-PRC Country Partnership
Safdar Parvez, Country Director, ADB Resident Mission in the PRC

The PRC-ADB Strengthening Cooperation to Tackle Regional Challenges
Yiping Huang, Dean, National School of Development, Peking University

Panel Discussion: Creating Partnerships for Addressing Regional Challenges
  • Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), ADB
  • Weihua Liu, Executive Director, ADB
  • Beate Trankmann, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme in the PRC
  • Ayumi Konishi, Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance
  • Yao Wang, Director General, International Institute of Green Finance

Q&A
10.45-11.00Break
11.00-12.302. Nature Conservation as a Regional Public Good

Chair: Duncan Lang, Senior Environment Specialist, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD), ADB

Presentation:
Good International Practices on Strategies for Conserving Nature
Mingjia Yuan, The Nature Conservancy Beijing Representative Office

Considerations on Debt for Nature Swaps
Nicole Arditti, Global Sovereign Advisory

Panel Discussion: How Can We Leverage Financing Instruments to Meet the Global Conservation Goal of 30% of Land and Marine Resources Protected by 2030?
  • Ye Wang, Deputy Section Chief, Foreign Economic Cooperation Office, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the PRC
  • Han Chen, Senior Researcher, Green Belt and Road Center, International Institute of Green Finance, Central university of Finance and Economics, the PRC
  • Mingjia Yuan, The Nature Conservancy, Beijing Representative Office
  • Nicole Arditti, Global Sovereign Advisory
  • Luo Wang, Director, Institute of International Development Cooperation, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce, the PRC

Q&A
12.30-14.00Lunch
14.00-15.303. Energy Transition as a Global Public Good

Chair: Toru Kubo, Senior Director, Climate Change, Resilience, and Environment, CCSD, ADB

Presentation: International Practices for Accelerating the Energy Transition
Andrew Jeffries, Advisor, Energy Transition Mechanism and Partnerships, Sector Group, ADB

Panel Discussion: Creating Partnerships for Advancing the Energy Transition in ADB’s Developing Member Countries
  • Yanmei Cui, Deputy General Manager, Client and Credit Management Department, Export-Import Bank of China
  • Edo Mahendra, Special Advisor to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Indonesia, and Chairperson of Indonesia Energy Transition Implementation Joint Office
  • Junjie Kang, Deputy Director, Climate Change and Energy Transition Program, Institute of Energy, Peking University
  • Helmut Fischer, Executive Director, ADB
  • Yihan Hao, Principal, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) China Program
  • Andrew Jeffries, Advisor, Energy Transition Mechanism and Partnerships, Sector Group, ADB

Q&A
15.30-17.004. Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Global Best Practices in Strategy, Policy, and Regulation

Chair: Ozzeir Khan, Director, Information and Technology Department (ITD), ADB

Presentation: Setting the Context
Stephanie Hung, Director General, ITD, ADB

Panel Discussion: How AI Can Be Supportive in Tackling Regional Challenges
  • Stephanie Hung, Director General, Information and Technology Department, ADB
  • Chen Hui Ong, Assistant Chief Executive (Business-Technology Group), Infocomm and Media Development Authority of Singapore
  • Talal Ikhwan, Head, KPMG Digital Village, Singapore
  • Xudong Chen, Chairman and General Manager of IBM, Greater China Group
  • Zheng Liang, Deputy Director, China Institute for Science and Technology Policy, Tsinghua University

Q&A
17.00-17.05Closing Remarks

Muhammad Ehsan Khan, Director General, East Asia Department, ADB
17.05-17.20Break
17.20-17.50Publication Launch: “Echoes of Success: Case Studies in the Replication of Asian Development Bank Projects in the People’s Republic of China”

Messages from:
Scott Morris, Vice President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), ADB
Xin Zhang, Executive Director and General Manager, Shaanxi Financial Holding Development Investment Management Co., Ltd.
All dayResults Reality Booth
Showcasing ADB projects in the PRC in augmented and virtual reality
18.30-20.30Dinner
09.00-18.00Field Visit to Project Site
Tianjin Dongli Biomass Energy and Comprehensive Waste Treatment Subproject, Dongli District, Tianjin Municipality

ADB and UNDRR Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR 2030) City-to-City Learning Forum on Developing Urban Disaster Resilience

Cities and urban communities around Asia and the Pacific are facing an era of unprecedented uncertainty, with climate-induced disasters becoming more frequent, intense, and unpredictable. Over the past three decades, extreme weather events have accounted for 90% of all disasters, posing significant threats to urban areas through intensified storms, coastal flooding, deadly heatwaves, water shortages, and prolonged droughts. At the same time, local authorities face other systems-wide crises, in terms of water, food, and energy security. The Political Declaration of the midterm review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in May 2023 reiterates the extreme challenges to hand and conveys a deep concern that the pace of implementation is not sufficient or equal. The gaps at the local and urban level are particularly large.

In response to these challenges, municipalities across Asia Pacific are scaling up their ambitions and actions on disaster resilience to protect their citizens and local infrastructure assets and systems. The Political Declaration of the midterm review of the Sendai Framework calls for scaled up support and action at the local level, urging countries to:

  • Support and enable all local authorities to have disaster risk reduction strategies and local platforms for disaster risk reduction, or similar mechanisms, in place;
  • Ensure the provision of financial assistance, technical support, and capacity development to strengthen local multi-hazard risk governance and local government leadership on disaster risk reduction;
  • Promote local ownership through community-based disaster risk management approaches and whole-of-society engagement; and
  • Promote exchanges and peer learning between cities through increased participation in the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative.

Register via Zoom

Meeting venue

Agenda

TimeProgram
08:00 – 09:00Registration
09:00 – 09:10Opening Remarks
Norio Saito
, Senior Director, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of Office Incheon, United Nation Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (Online speaker)
09:10 – 10:40Theme 1: Showcasing Urban Solutions – SDGs in Action at the Municipality Level

Moderator: Mr Andy McElroy
, Global Coordinator MCR2030, UNDRR

Speakers:
Ms Deborah C. Dacanay, Head of Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office, Philippines – Quezon City Community Inclusive Disaster Preparedness Interventions (SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities)
Ms Susana Sousa Gonçalves, Director of Civil Protection Matosinhos, Portugal – Putting Communities at the Heart of Resilience Action (SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities)
Ms Sung Ah An, Public Officer, Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea – How Incheon Effectively Manages Increasing Heatwave Risk (SDG 13 Climate Action)

Q&A session
10:40 – 10:55Coffee Break
10:55 – 12:25Theme 2: Financing Urban Disaster Resilience

Moderator: Mr Jinqiang Chen, Urban Development Specialist (Climate Change), Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB

Speakers:
Ms Liza Ramos, Research and Planning Division Head, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Makati City, Philippines – How is Makati Developing Innovative Financing Options for Resilience (Online speaker)
Ms Jazlyn Lee, Engagement Lead for Southeast Asia & South Asia, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and the Gap Fund Partnership – Empowering Cities to Transform Climate Ideas into Action through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund
Mr Thomas Kessler, Principal Finance Specialist (Disaster Insurance), ADB – Building Climate and Disaster Resilient Cities – Risk Management, Financing and Insurance

Q&A session
12:25 – 12:30Group Photo
12:30 – 14:00Networking lunch
14:00 – 15:30Theme 3: Learning from MCR2030 Resilience Hubs

Moderator: Mr Alessandro Attolico
, Executive Director of the Territorial Planning and Civil Protection Office at the Province of Potenza, Italy

Speakers:
Dr Kathy Oldham OBE
, Chief Resilience Officer, Greater Manchester, the UK – How Greater Manchester Works with Nature as Part of Flood Risk Management (Online speaker)
Mr Jieyong Luo, Resilient City Officer for the City of Zhuji, PRC – Building a Resilient River City – Zhuji’s Practice in Governing and Transforming Puyang River to Enhance Flood Resistance
Mr Stefan Wagner, Head of the Department of International Affairs and Global Sustainability, City of Bonn, Germany – Connecting the Green Agenda from National to Local Level (Online speaker)

Q&A session
15:30 – 16:00Coffee break
16:00 – 18:00Theme 4: Learning from Asian Development Bank

Moderator: Ms Jingmin Huang, Director
, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB

Speakers:
Mr Khen Sopheak
, Deputy Director of Inter-Sectoral Division of Kep Provincial Hall, Cambodia – City-to-City Partnership on Resilient City Development
Ms Yingxia Xie, Former Vice President, Professor, China Academy of Urban Planning and Design – Urban Resilience Evaluation Method and Index System
Ms Arpita Mozumder, Assistant Engineer, Planning Unit, Local Government Engineering Department, Bangladesh – Coastal Towns Climate Resilience Project in Bangladesh
Mr Ming Hu, Senior Engineer, Director of Movement Control Office, Fuzhou Urban Water System Joint Drainage and Coordination Centre – One Center Manages the Entire City, Digitization Ensures Safety: Innovative Practices of the Fuzhou Water System’s Coordinated Management Mechanism

Q&A session
18:00 – 20:30Networking dinner
TimeProgram
09:00 – 10:30Theme 5: Strengthening National-Local Coordination

Moderator: Ms Susana Sousa Gonçalves
, Director of Civil Protection Matosinhos, Portugal

Speakers:
Mr Alessandro Attolico
, Executive Director of the Territorial Planning and Civil Protection Office at the Province of Potenza, Italy – Long Term Strategy for Effective Risk Governance
Mr Aslan Kandygulov, Director of the Center, Urban Environmental Sustainability Center, Astana, Kazakhstan – Resilience Action Plan for a 21st Century City
Mr Ali Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, Kulhudhuffushi City Council, Maldives – Strengthening Local Capacity with MCR2030: A City’s Sustainable Approach to Building Resilience

Q&A session
10:30 – 10:45Coffee break
10:45 – 12:15Theme 6: Identifying solutions to major urban disaster resilience challenges

Moderator: Ms Deborah C. Dacanay
, Head Persons with Disability Affairs Office, Philippines

Speakers:
Mr Hee Jong Kim
, Director Ulsan Research Institute, Republic of Korea – Forging Multisector City Partnerships for Resilience
Mr Thayukorn Prabamroong, Director of Climate Change, Mitigation, Adaptation Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Thailand – How the Thai Network for Disaster Resilience of 17 Universities Supports Local Governments to Reduce Disaster Risk
Ms Sofia Karma, Dr Chemical Engineer, Academic Staff National Technical University of Athens, Greece, Director of the European Center for Forest Fires, EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement/Council of Europe – Recommendations for Managing Urban Heatwaves and for Inclusivity in Disaster Preparedness and Response

Q&A session
12:15 – 13:30Networking lunch
13:30 – 15:00Orientation: Disaster Resilience Scorecard Assessments for Cities

Introduction:
Orientation on two new self-assessment tools to understand capacities and gaps in terms of climate resilience and early warning systems.

Group work: Participants will split into two groups and try out one of the tools.

Plenary feedback: Participants will share feedback on their discussions and potential deeper dive follow-ups with individual cities will be discussed.
15:00 – 15:15Coffee break
15:15 – 17:15Final Session: Moving Forward on Urban Resilience in Asia

Moderators:
Mr Andy McElroy,
Global Coordinator MCR2030, UNDRR
Mr Jinqiang Chen, Urban Development Specialist (Climate Change), Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB
Mr Xijie Lu, Urban Development Specialist, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB

-This moderated session will be a focused group discussion to identify priority areas for collaboration & collective commitment to ensure follow-up action on urban disaster resilience.
-How can MCR2030 Resilience Hubs, Asian Development Bank, and cities work better together to strengthen urban disaster resilience – what plans/commitments can be made?
-What kind of support is required to deliver on these plans/commitments?
17:15 – 17:20Closing Remarks: Ms Jingmin Huang, Director, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB
18:00 – 20:30Networking dinner
TimeProgram
09:00 – 12:30Site visit to Guangxi Polytechnic of Construction
– The Introduction of Guangxi Polytechnic of Construction, current status and the achievements of the Resilient Cities Development Research Center, Urban Renewal Research Center (Habitat Building Research Center)
– Campus visit
– Lunch at school cafeteria
12:30 – 14:00Back to hotel
14:00 – 17:50Site visit to Guangxi Institute of Safety and Technology
– Visit the emergency service station in Xingdong Community, Nanning
– Visit Guangxi Institute of Safety and Technology
17:50 – 20:30Networking dinner

Highlights

Documentation will be available here after the event.

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Embracing Digital Technology for Sustainable Economic Development

With global efforts focused on post-pandemic recovery and addressing climate change threats, digitalization and technological innovation, enabled by the right policy and infrastructure support, offer pathways to sustainable and inclusive growth.

Addressing infrastructure, investment, and policy gaps are key to inclusive digital growth.

Digital technology is at the forefront of transforming economies and societies at an unprecedented speed and scale. Advancements in automation, e-commerce, and mobile payments allow businesses to cut costs and increase profits. Despite improvements in digital literacy and adoption, nearly one-third of the world’s population remains offline due to affordability issues.

Countries in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) region are at different stages of development, and so are their digital technological adoption levels. According to International Telecom Union, the region has some of the lowest internet usage rates globally, with over three-fourths of the population in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan being disconnected. Many of these countries are landlocked and not linked to global fiber-optic lines further complicating broadband connectivity.

Apart from geological barriers, poor regulation and reforms, limited private investment, and entrenched state-owned monopolies exacerbate digital gaps in CAREC countries. Therefore, addressing these issues is key to expanding access and ensuring that digital transformation is equitable and inclusive.

Paying attention to marginalized populations is critical in bridging the digital divide.

While technological innovation has increased productivity and efficiency, the varying rates of digital adoption has also widened the existing digital divide among countries, regions, genders, income, and age groups.

For instance, while enterprises in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are in Industry 4.0 stage of digital growth characterized by Internet of Things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics, many companies in other CAREC countries are still in Industry 2.0 stage of electrification of machines and mass production. In addition, women face additional barriers to digital literacy and access, alongside prevalent gender bias and stereotype.

As a result, promoting an inclusive digital transformation means providing equitable access to digital tools, skilling opportunities, and other resources to all segments of the population, particularly the marginalized ones. Supporting individuals and businesses in upskilling and re-skilling and acquiring and using new technologies help level the field and bridge the digital divide.

An enabling policy environment is vital for cross-border digital trade.

As more and more companies shift their operations online, it is crucial to establish robust governance structures and regulatory frameworks to ensure security, safety, and transparency in digital transactions. Policies must be put in place to protect consumers and build trust among online users.

The PRC’s growth in e-commerce—amassing over 87 million users in 2022 and accounting for 42% of the global marketplace—is anchored on incremental and steady policy direction, incentivization, and enactment of legal and regulatory frameworks, particularly its focus on national and sub-national policies to drive e-commerce development in rural areas. Lessons from the PRC’s e-commerce development have broader applications in the digitalization of trade and public services.

Albeit at a modest scale, countries in the CAREC region are upscaling their efforts to digitalize trade facilitation and e-governance processes. Pakistan’s experience with the single window initiative for cross-border trade facilitation has eliminated the need to process as many as 45 manual documents, resulting in substantial cost and time savings. Similarly, Mongolia has taken remarkable steps in adopting ICT tools for optimizing public services, piloting the use of a digital platform that provides 994 public services for citizens and legal entities.

Inclusive digital transformation relies on accessible and affordable financial services.

Although global online transactions have increased over the years, 1.4 billion individuals remain excluded from theformal financial sector. According to the World Bank, most CAREC countries fare below the global average (74%) in bank account ownership.

Digital technology can help bridge the financial inclusion gap by providing alternatives to traditional banking services. Mobile money, for example, allows people to conduct financial transactions using their mobile phones without needing a bank account. This has been particularly beneficial in developing countries, where bank account ownership remains low and financial services are limited.

In the PRC, digital technology is advancing financial inclusion through promoting ownership of transaction accounts and use of digital payments. Within a decade, online transaction volumes in the PRC increased from 5.41 trillion to 1163.19 trillion, while mobile payment usage grew from 33.6% to 78.3%.

Sustainable Digital Transformation— Way Forward for CAREC Countries.

To realize the enormous untapped digital potential in the CAREC region, member countries designed the CAREC Digital Strategy 2030, which provides a comprehensive roadmap for creating a regional digital economy. The strategy emphasizes the centrality of creating an innovation ecosystem by combining efforts and resources among the private and public sector, academics, research institutions, and development partners.

Gathering and networking in an event such as the CAREC Think Tank Forum is one way to connect countries and exchange knowledge and best practices to harness digital technology to promote sustainable economic development.

Author
Khalid Umar

Khalid Umar

Chief Strategic Planning Division, CAREC Institute

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© 2024 Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative. The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data in any documents and materials posted on this website and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in any documents posted on this website, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.