| 20 January, Thursday (9:00am-10:15am) |
COVID-19 Country Assessment (COCOA) Report
Southeast Asia: Recovering from the Pandemic
Two years after the pandemic started, Southeast Asia is beginning to recover, although the pace remains tentative, uneven, and sensitive to the volatile path of the pandemic. Output levels in the region are still well below the no-COVID baseline level, and the spread of the Omicron variant could further reduce growth forecasts. While the pandemic has exposed many of the region’s economic and social vulnerabilities, it has also intensified earnest efforts to build back better, which governments can do by investing in health, improving social assistance programs, supporting small enterprises, building competitiveness, and choosing a greener path to economic recovery. How countries build on key lessons learned and respond to pressing challenges today will determine the pace and sustainability of their recovery efforts.
Welcome Remarks:
Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General, SERD
Keynote Presentation:
James Villafuerte, Senior Economist, SERC
Panel Discussion:
Henry Ma, Senior Country Economist, IRM
Soulinthone Leuangkhamsin, Senior Economics Officer, LRM
Dulce Zara, Senior Regional Cooperation Officer, SERC
Kavita Iyengar, Country Economist, TLRM
Thuc Phuong Luu Nguyen, Economic Analyst, VRM
Moderator:
Alfredo Perdiguero, Director, SERC