The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Friday that it has approved a loan of $1 billion for Kazakhstan in an effort to help counter an economic slowdown driven by a tumble in global oil prices that forced the nation to devalue its currency, the tenge. “This loan from ADB’s Countercyclical Support Facility will give the country the fiscal leeway … Continue reading
The move by People’s Bank of China’s (PBoC) this week to loosen the renminbi (RMB) exchange rate, inducing a depreciation of the RMB against the US dollar by 3.5% in two days, has sparked intense debate among economists, pundits and policymakers. Does the depreciation show the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is moving against or … Continue reading
By Pepe Escobar, Asia Times “Pipelineistan” – the prime Eurasian energy chessboard — never sleeps. Recently, it’s Russia that has scored big on all fronts; two monster gas deals sealed with China last year; the launch of Turk Stream replacing South Stream; and the doubling of Nord Stream to Germany. Now, with the possibility of sanctions on … Continue reading
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao yesterday (March 10th) met Cambodia’s Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, Minister of Economy and Finance, Aun Pornmoniroth, and Minister for Education, Youth and Sport, Hang Chuon Naron to discuss the Cambodian government’s development strategy and how ADB can support its efforts to diversify the economy, promote inclusive growth and … Continue reading
Asian countries need to look beyond transport systems based on private vehicles if they hope to keep their cities clean, efficient, and prosperous. Buses, trains, bikes, and river ferries are only for poor people. Prosperous people use private cars in cities that are laced with highways. These simple but powerful ideas are key stumbling blocks … Continue reading
As families change and populations age, the elderly from across Asia and the Pacific risk being left behind in the region’s economic boom. In the People’s Republic of China, more than half the population lives in rural areas but only about 10 percent of these residents are covered by rural pension schemes, according to a … Continue reading
The President of Asian Development Bank, Mr. Takehiko Nakao, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, February, 5th. The Prime Minister urged Mr. Nakao that the Asian Development Bank should take up the Railways sector in India as a priority, and complete one transformational project which will create a visible impact. He suggested that … Continue reading