Asia’s economic prospects
Chair:
Linda Yueh @lindayueh – Fellow in Economics, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford; Adjunct Professor of Economics, London Business School; Visiting Professor, IDEAS, London School of Economics and Political Science
Speakers:
Ganeshan Wignaraja – Executive Director, Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI), Sri Lanka and Senior Research Associate, ODI
Indrajit Coomaraswamy – Governor of the Central Bank, Sri Lanka
Rachel Turner – Director of Economic Development, UK Department for International Development
Dirk Willem te Velde @DWteVelde – Principal Research Fellow and Head of the International Economic Development Group, ODI
Description
Asia’s economic prospects by 2025 appear strong. Yet despite historic economic success and resilience since the global financial crisis, the continent faces a range of challenges including escalating trade protectionism, graduation from international support measures, external debt and an ageing population.
Asia is diverse with countries of varying population size, geography and economic dynamism. Asia’s giants, China, India and Japan, are experiencing varying growth challenges, while several middle-income countries (MICs) are likely to be vulnerable to trade and income shocks, as well as rising income inequality. Asia’s MICs also offer substantial opportunities for trade and investment.
After Beijing's Belt and Road Forum, this event examines the economic implications of China’s development strategy for other Asian countries and explores macroeconomic prospects for Asian economies and how countries such as the UK could work to seize opportunities and address vulnerabilities.