Industry and trade

Easing the movement of skilled and semi-skilled labor across borders could have enormous benefits for Southeast Asia.

At your service: trade liberalization could bring huge benefits to Southeast Asia

Making it easier for workers to move between countries is key to liberalizing the trade in services and unleashing the benefits it will produce across national and regional economies.

Kakali Mukhopadhyay

The WTO’s new Trade Finance Agreement could have significant impacts on regional and global trade.

Let’s make it easier for countries to trade

The World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement provides a roadmap for developing economies to increase trade while also increasing the benefits it provides to their citizens.

Utsav Kumar, Ben Shepherd

Economic activity is set to increase between Southeast Asia and the People’s Republic of China as a major trade deal is upgraded. Photo: ADB

Why it matters that one of the region’s biggest trade deals is being upgraded

Important changes are underway for Southeast Asia’s relationship with its biggest trading partner, the People’s Republic of China.

Jayant Menon, Anna Cassandra Melendez

Women who own their own businesses, including small enterprises, are noteworthy contributors to a country's economic growth and ability to reduce poverty. Photo: ADB

Taking ownership: Better data is needed on women’s assets in Asia

Collecting sex-disaggregated data on asset ownership is an important step in achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in Asia and the Pacific.

Kaushal Joshi, Mildred Addawe, Arturo Martinez

Tourism is an important source of economic diversification for Mongolia.

Blue skies and green steppe – developing sustainable tourism in Mongolia

Scaling up ecotourism in Mongolia requires a multi-sector approach that carefully balances conservation and development.

Mark R. Bezuijen

The PRC and Viet Nam have become inseparable trade partners.

How a spike in trade with PRC has reduced income inequality in Viet Nam

Viet Nam is a particularly good case to measure the impact on income inequality of rising trade with the People's Republic of China.

Matthias Helble, Trang Thu Le, Trinh Q. Long

Certified organic food products are worthy of being sold at a premium.

Promoting green business: 3 priorities for action

Consumers, investors, producers, distributors, and the public all have a role to play in taking partial responsibility for environmental management.

Daniele Ponzi, Erin Jan Sinogba

The PRC supplies over 80% of Christmas decorations worldwide, including lights.

Will trade tensions dim Christmas lights?

This holiday season, Christmas tree lights will still flicker despite the US-PRC trade tensions. But if the conflict rages, they may be dimmer next year.

Jong Woo Kang