The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about forced changes in people’s lives and work styles as fit to contactless societies under the “new normal.” One year after the outbreak in 2020, how could Indonesia’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) survive and change their business models in response to the crisis? To what extent could the government assistance programs support MSMEs in overcoming the hardships?

Wholesale markets play a key role in the distribution of agricultural products while considering aggregation of commodities, price formation ad stabilization, quality assurance, diversified demand of consumers, food safety and promotion of farmers' income increase. However, wholesale markets have encountered various challenges more often influenced by global, regional and domestic factors.

Asian Impact is a webinar series that showcases ADB’s research work and informs debate on critical policy issues in Asia. ADB experts, noted academics, frontline policymakers, and others will provide their insights through engaging panel discussions and stimulating research seminars. Join us for an evidence-based exploration of Asia’s continuing economic transformation and the risks that the region faces.

08:00-08:45 Stockholm | 14:00-14:45 Manila | 16:00-16:45 Sydney

The Third Finance Forum envisioned the future of inclusive finance by discussing how new technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and blockchain, the rapid expansion of mobile payments and digital banking, are helping to bring financial services to unbanked communities. Under its overarching theme, “The Future of Inclusive Finance”, featured sessions on:

In developing countries of Asia and the Pacific, cities have very different levels of development and often lack core infrastructure and systems for efficient mobility or lack access, connectivity and inclusivity. The perspectives of right solutions vary between countries, but there still is a heavy bias towards simpler “engineered” solutions being developed.