Regulatory Sandbox Workshop (16 April 2019)

The level of railway technology varies greatly throughout developing Asia and the Pacific but is often ancient in terms of railway infrastructures, systems, and rolling stock. New technologies in the digital sphere, from control systems to data gathering, create an immense opportunity, but at the same time, the agony of choice as countries must sort and prioritize which technologies are the most appropriate in their specific, national case.

The Asia Pacific region has made significant progress in terms of reducing food insecurity. Despite the remarkable gains, the region is still faced with challenges such as the increasing demand, climate change, shrinking agriculture workforce, and unsustainable use of natural resources, among others. Promoting rural development is critical in helping solve food security issues and propelling economic development.

Smart grids, along with its component technologies, are increasingly becoming an important focus of the ADB energy portfolio in Bangladesh. This conference will serve as a platform to share information on international experience relevant to Bangladesh--these include examples, case studies, implementation roadmaps, frameworks, and strategies. The policy and regulatory environment required to foster low-carbon energy transition, leapfrog with smarter and inclusive technology solutions will be discussed as well.

In this roundtable, representatives from ADB Institute (ADBI), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and International Labour Organization (ILO) discussed management approaches on labor migration in Asia, as well as migration trends and policies in the region.