JOIN US via on 26-27 SEPTEMBER 202 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6674212408?pwd=OFJDbVZ6NDVkUUgvZS9VbnpJRk1yUT09
Meeting ID: 667 421 2408
Passcode: ADB

                      Profiles and presentations available here ADB–Asian Think Tanks Network

BACKGROUND

Pacific Island Economies (PIEs) are regarded as amongst the 92 most vulnerable member states of the United Nations. The PIEs are a heterogeneous set of countries, but they share many common characteristics, such as small size, fragile economic structure with narrow export base and remoteness translating to high transportation costs. The vulnerability of the region arises from its unique geography and susceptibility to shocks and natural disaster emanating as a result of climate change (ADB, 2013). There is an increased urgency for the region to scale up knowledge and capacity building for research in areas of pressing policy matters, such as trade, infrastructure, tourism, digitalization, labor mobility, regional cooperation and others.

In this context, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), under its ADB-Asian Think Tanks Network (ATTN) platform, and in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji, is convening a forum, called the ATTN Forum, bringing the community of researchers and policy makers together. The theme of the forum is “Pacific Island Economies: Aiming for Sustainable Economic Development in Midst of Growing Uncertainties”. The forum is an outcome of earlier activities, including a call for paper in January 2023, covering several topics of economic development, and a technical workshop held at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in April 2023.

This Forum will not only discuss the completed papers but will include topics on ADB economic outlook, new data sources and policy planning, and tourism and regional cooperation. In addition, a special capacity-building session will be hosted by ADBI and USP for selected participants. The Forum will bring together government officials from Fiji and other Pacific Island economies, think tanks in the Pacific, students, and academics.

The ATTN is a network of think tanks and research centers actively engaged in the study of sustainable economic growth and inclusive development in the Asia and Pacific region. The network led by ADB and in partnership with ADBI, undertakes collaborative policy-relevant research activity on a wide array of socio-economic themes while pursuing goals of (i) systematic knowledge-sharing among member think tanks; (ii) strengthening the think tanks’ operational capacity to generate robust research; and (iii) raising awareness of Asia and Pacific region in the global community.