
Cambodia Provides a Valuable Lesson on Utilization Rates
Economies in Asia and the Pacific should consider utilization rates as a regional public good allowed to raise the value of trade agreements and foster regional value chains.

Beyond Tourism: Diversifying the Maldivian Economy for a Sustainable Future
The pandemic, which devastated the tourism industry worldwide, illustrated the importance of Maldives diversifying its economy to sectors other than tourism and travel.

Advancing WTO Reform: Key Steps for Enhancing the Multilateral Trading System
The rise of trade distorting measures adopted unilaterally by countries signals the need for reform of World Trade Organization rules and procedures.

Factories or Call Centers? Asia Charts its Development Path
Asia’s industries, primarily manufacturing, fueled phenomenal economic growth and poverty reduction in recent decades. But today many countries are looking to the service sector as an alternative.

Aid for Trade Needs to Catch Up with the Modern World
With mega trade deals and digitalization, we need to rethink aid for trade with more focus on policy and regulatory support.

Asia’s Fashion Industry Looks to New Strategies to Overcome Pandemic Impacts
Business-friendly policies, and the transition to greater use of e-commerce and on-demand production, are key to helping Asia’s small and medium-sized fashion companies bounce back from the pandemic.

Asia’s Resilient Supply Chains Withstand Pandemic and Global Turmoil
A range of factors have helped Asia’s supply chains weather the pandemic better than those in other parts of the world. Vigilance is needed to maintain these vital trade links.

Asian Trade Has Rebounded Strongly, Yet Uncertainties Persist
These charts illustrate the strong momentum of Asia’s trade growth during 2021, showing its resilience amid continuing uncertainties around the pandemic and a potential slowdown in the pace of global economic recovery.

The World’s Struggling Supply Chains Need Greater Transparency to Speed Recovery
Greater transparency is required to make global trade and supply chains more reliable and to ensure sustainability and social standards are met. But that is easier said than done.

Bangladesh Needs to Expand Trade with Its Neighbors
With the right policies and investments, Bangladesh can become a trade and transport hub in South Asia.