Asian Development Bank

NEWS ANALYSIS

Asia battles rising, uneven toll of energy crisis caused by Iran war

Fiscal strains are mounting across the region, particularly South Asia

Masato Kanda, president of ADB, says energy and digital connectivity would underpin the region’s growth.

ADB launches US$70 billion plan for energy, digital infrastructure in Apac

The development bank intends to finance at least half the cost of the initiatives itself

Major damage to facilities in Qatar's Ras Laffan complex, which supply about 6% of global natural gas liquefaction capacity, could take as long as five years to repair.

Apac could feel energy supply chain disruptions for years, says ADB

The development bank cuts its regional GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 4.7% from 5.1% previously

Indonesia and Timor Leste are likely to witness strong consumption in 2026, while Myanmar's disaster reconstruction could support a rebound in domestic activity.

Domestic demand could support South-east Asia growth if Middle East conflict stabilises early: ADB

The energy shock is unlikely to crush longer-term growth ambitions, say economists

The fund will accelerate investments to achieve fully integrated electricity grid operations by 2045, benefitting South-east Asia.

Asian Development Bank launches US$25 million fund for Asean power grid

[MANILA] The Asian Development Bank said on Tuesday (Apr 7) that it has launched South-east Asia’s first multi-partner fund to accelerate the development of an Asean-wide cross-border power grid and s...

Albert Park of Asian Development Bank says: “If financial disruption becomes disorderly, then our advice is for central banks to think about stabilising markets.”

ADB sees modest growth impact on Asia if Middle East conflict lasts about a month

A prolonged crisis could spill into other sectors such as air travel and cargo shipping

Albert Park, chief economist at the Asian Development Bank, says South-east Asia's openness to trade and strong fundamentals have enabled its dynamic growth.

As great powers hedge their bets, Asean needs pragmatism and integration to drive growth: ADB

Digitalisation is a key focus for the bloc, but more consensus is needed, say economists

Philippines trails regional peers in attracting foreign direct investment, held back by red tape, high power costs, and weak infrastructure.

ADB approves US$400 million loan to make it easier to do business in the Philippines

The country grapples with a massive corruption scandal with billions of pesos allegedly syphoned off substandard or “ghost” infrastructure

An employee checking readings at a laboratory in a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory in Singapore. Additional US tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors would mostly affect South-east Asia, said ADB, with the former primarily hitting Singapore.

ADB slashes 2026 growth outlook for Thailand, Singapore by nearly half

Vietnam bucks the bank’s regional downgrades with a slight lift for 2025

Cargo ships are loaded with containers while docked at the port of Bangkok. South-east Asia is expected to slow the most, with growth now projected at 4.2 per cent in 2025 and 4.3 per cent in 2026.

US tariffs, trade tensions to slow growth in developing Asia and Pacific: ADB

The region is forecast to grow by 4.7 per cent in 2025, down from an earlier projection of 4.9 per cent in April