Advertise on podcast: Asia's Developing Future

One month after the deadly floods in the river valleys of the Nepal-China border area, recovery efforts are still continuing. What can be done to urgently strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience for communities in a region that is facing increasing risks of natural hazards of greater intensity? Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and Santosh Kumar Rauniyar, Senior Research Fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, discuss the ongoing threats to the region and the actions needed now. Disclaimer: The views expressed by the guests are their own and do not represent the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank or Asian Development Bank Institute . Script: https://adbi.me/4hgBLeT

Policymakers in Asia’s cities won’t often win the argument for change and investment by leading with carbon emissions reduction alone, so what do they need to do to support the transition to net zero? Piyush Tiwari, professor of property at Melbourne University, Australia, and co-editor of ADBI’s recent book, Reimagining Net-Zero Cities: Exploring the Role of the Private Sector, Institutions, Governments and Communities, discusses the pathways and tools that can successfully create a sustainable and prosperous future for our urban centers. The views expressed by the guests are their own and do not represent the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank or Asian Development Bank Institute. Script: https://adbi.me/4gO3Vwu

Health systems across Asia and the Pacific are under pressure. Populations are aging, and there are increasing risks from climate change and future pandemics. Governments are facing tighter budgets. In these conditions, can universal health coverage still be attainable? Osamu Kunii, CEO and Executive Director of the Global Health Innovation Technology Fund, and Eduardo Banzon, Director of the Asian Development Bank’s Health Sector Team discuss the key issues facing health financing. Script: https://adbi.me/3TNnyN7

At the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin, ADBI Dean Bambang Brodjonegoro speaks with Global Solutions Initiative President Christian Kastrop about the future of multilateralism, the growing influence of middle powers, and opportunities for cooperation on sustainable growth, and global governance in an increasingly fragmented world. Script: https://adbi.me/4fSLiZf

Jodie Kuntzsch, foundational CEO of Moananui, and managing director of Aleotion, and Michael Huang, senior research fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, discuss the opportunities for the blue economy in Asia and the Pacific. Script: https://adbi.me/4nUSgiq

From Japan’s aging lessons to unlocking the demographic dividend in South Asia, Rohini Somanathan, Professor and Head of the Economics Department at the Delhi School of Economics and Sagiri Kitao, Senior Research Economist at ADBI, discuss what the demographic trends shaping Asia means for growth, jobs, and policy choices. Script: https://adbi.me/4sJcqfX

Industrial policy plays a central role in shaping how economies grow—but the sectors governments support, the firms they finance, and the skills they prioritize can either reinforce existing inequalities or help close them. So what would it take to design industrial policy that actively advances gender equality? Valeria Esquivel of the International Labour Organization and Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete of the University of Cambridge discuss how gender-responsive industrial policy can be designed and implemented—and why it matters for inclusive and sustainable growth. Script: https://adbi.me/4rI8kEC

Asia’s economic rise has been built on trade, but with the global trading system undergoing structural transformation could digital trade define Asia and the Pacific’s next phase of growth and integration? ADBI Fellow Sayuri Shirai explores its potential impact. Script: https://adbi.me/4tZQaR8

What does it take for developing economies in Asia and the Pacific to grow, move beyond middle-income status and cope with today’s global challenges? In this episode, ADBI Dean Bambang Brodjonegoro and World Bank Group Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics Indermit Gill discuss how smart policies, stronger institutions, and regional integration can all support resilient growth, and harness emerging technologies like AI. Script: https://adbi.me/4ajWBX4

What does it take to develop effective policymakers in today’s turbulent geopolitical climate? Professor Francis Fukuyama joined ADBI Dean Bambang Brodjonegoro to discuss the future of governance, why building policy expertise matters more than ever, and the challenges and opportunities for capacity development across Asia and the Pacific. Script: adbi.me/4rDSH2f

Court battles can drag on for years, but what if major cross-border disputes could be solved in just days? Nadja Alexander, Director of the Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy, and Rajesh Sharma, Director of RMIT Dispute Management Centre, explain how mediation and arbitration are helping Asia’s economies cut case backlogs, boost investor confidence, and build trust. Script: https://adbi.me/3L6O289

How is AI reshaping the future of work across Asia and the Pacific? In this episode, journalist Michael Beltran and Professor Mohammad Jarrahi cut through the hype to explore automation, tacit knowledge, and co-learning between humans and machines. Discover what AI means for BPO workers, education, and the policies needed to protect vulnerable communities. Script: https://adbi.me/46202Qo

Dr. K.E. Seetharam, Senior Consulting Specialist at the Asian Development Bank Institute, and Dr. Sakshi Pandey of the Capacity Building Commission, Government of India, explore Asia’s triple burden of malnutrition: urban obesity, rural undernutrition, and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Drawing on case studies and insights from their recent book, they examine how urbanization, evolving food systems, and socio-economic disparities are reshaping public health across the region. Script: https://adbi.me/4m4p078

With global fragmentation on the rise, ADBI Dean Bambang Brodjonegoro and ADB Vice-President for East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, Scott Morris explore how Asia and the Pacific can boost resilience and forge a bright future through cross-border integration. Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3GN3zIh

As scams and cybercrime soar in the digital age, financial crime has become a moving target. Shawn Hunter, research fellow at Griffith Asia Institute, and Louis de Koker, a professor of law at La Trobe University, explain how new technologies, outdated frameworks, and regulatory gaps affect everything from financial inclusion to cross-border cooperation in Asia and the Pacific. Script: https://adbi.me/3T5D5V1