5th International Skills Forum: Current Priorities in Technical and Vocational Education and Training

As countries in Asia seek to help their youth acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute productively and successfully to the demands of rapidly-changing economies, this event on 5th ADB International Skills Forum: Current Priorities in Technical and Vocational Education and Training focused on the key issues of relevance arising from this goal.

Performance of Irrigation Investments

Countries in the Asia and Pacific region are undergoing relatively rapid transitions from largely agrarian rural societies to increasingly urbanized communities. As Asian Development Bank and other development partners assist countries manage these transitions, rural development investments must adapt to the changing needs of both rural and urban communities.

From Spaghetti Bowl to Jigsaw Puzzle? Addressing the Disarray in the World Trade System

The Asia and Pacific region is party to 109 ratified free trade agreements, and with more being negotiated. The rise of mega-regionals suggests that the world trade system is fragmenting to appear more like a jigsaw puzzle than a spaghetti bowl. The time is ripe to seriously consider multilateralization of preferences.

From Spaghetti Bowl to Jigsaw Puzzle? Addressing the Disarray in the World Trade System

This learning event highlighted the proliferation of free trade agreements as the state of play in the Asia and Pacific region. It discussed how Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Trans-Pacific Partnership appear as both regional and global jigsaw puzzles. Given the difficulties associated with solving these puzzles, the use of tariff and non-tariff barriers as possible options to consider in moving forward is examined.

Smart Grids in Asia Pacific

This presentation discusses the smart energy system of the future. It examines the drivers for smart grid deployment, particularly current grid performance, in Southeast Asia. The smart grid spending in the People’s Republic of China and smart meter deployment in Japan are featured as case examples.

Measuring and Achieving Universal Health Coverage with ICT in Asia and the Pacific

This Conference on Measuring and Achieving Universal Health Coverage with ICT in Asia and the Pacific: Strategic Investments for Evidence and Action engaged government officials from multiple sectors (health, finance, planning, statistics, ICT), development partners, and experts to pursue a policy dialogue in increasing ICT and information infrastructure investments that accelerate universal health coverage (UHC) progress in Asia and the Pacific.

UNESCO and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with Particular Reference to the UNESCO World TVET Report 2013: Expanding Quality Learning for Work and Life

This presentation discusses UNESCO’s long-term involvement and program activities in the field of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). It introduces the “UNESCO World Report on TVET: Expanding Quality Learning for Work and Life (2013)” and points out themes in the report that particularly resonate with countries in Asia and the Pacific.