LEAP 4: From Battlefield to Marketplace: Connectivity, Industrialization, and Spatial Convergence in the GMS

ERCD and SERD organized the fourth LEAP webinar in which the ADB Chief Economist presented the results of a study on the impact of infrastructure investments in the economic corridors of the Greater Mekong Subregion, using satellite images. These investments unleashed market potential, facilitated industrial transformation, and developed peripheral cities. SERC’s Alfredo Perdiguero moderated the discussion.

Book Chapter Overview: The Past and Future Role of Asia’s Infrastructure in Development

This presentation gave an overview of Chapter 1 of the publication, "Infrastructure Financing in Asia", which examined how infrastructure conditions vary across countries in Asia and discussed policy actions for meeting infrastructure investment needs. It also established that without climate change mitigation and adaptation, these needs will cost $1.5 trillion per year.

Ching Yuen (Joseph) Ma

Joseph (Joe) Ma is an urban planner with over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors gained in the UK, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China, and other Asian countries. His extensive and myriad international experience covers strategic development and policy studies, large scale planning and development projects, new town and urban regeneration developments, railway, transportation, and infrastructure investments, as well as leisure, recreation, and tourism projects.

Meeting Asia’s Infrastructure Needs

Infrastructure is associated with development. For Asia to cope with its inhabitants’ needs, more and better infrastructure is needed. Unfortunately, investment gaps remains in many countries in the region.

This presentation, based on ADB’s report Meeting Asia’s Infrastructure Needs, looks into the current investment gaps and outlines proposed policies to close these gaps.