动态一：东亚东盟经济研究中心（ERIA）最新动态
1. ERIA-OECD Joint Seminar: OECD Regional Economic Outlook 2018
ERIA welcomed the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to present an update to the OECD’s Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China, and India 2018. This publication, originally released in November of last year, has been updated and recently relaunched with a focus on promoting e-commerce.
Kensuke Tanaka, Head of Asia Desk – OECD Development Centre, and Prasiwi Ibrahim, Economist – OECD Development Centre, presented the main findings of the report, which highlights the finding that growth is expected to remain strong in 2018-2019 in Southeast Asia, China and India. They identified six macroeconomic trends, including that domestic demand is an engine for growth, inflation is gaining traction, and optimism in capital markets has softened.
Three related challenges were also discussed: the impact of rising interest rates in the United States and other advanced economies, implementation of infrastructure projects, and advancing trade integration amid rising protectionism. On digitalisation, the speakers remarked that there has been an immense growth of information and communications technology use, in spite of huge disparities within the region. They were optimistic about the impact of e-commerce but noted that infrastructure development and accessibility must be improved in order for e-commerce to reach its full growth potential.
2. ERIA Holds First Workshop of ‘LNG Market Development in Asia’
On 9 July 2018, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) held a workshop on ‘LNG Market Development in Asia’ at the Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.
It was the first workshop on the study, which aims at identifying the measures to establish a transparent, liquid, and stable LNG market in Asia; exploring the areas where ‘new’ natural gas demand is expected; and discussing how to activate upstream investments as well as enhance cost competitiveness of LNG supply.
In order to achieve those targets, the workshop gathered an international group of governmental and industrial experts, think tank leaders, and senior researchers from international institutes. Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura, President of ERIA, attended the workshop and delivered his remarks alongside other presenters such as Mr Masato Sasaki, Director of Oil and Gas Division, Agency for Natural Gas Resources & Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry; Mr Masakazu Toyoda, CEO of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan; Mr Sun Xiansheng, Secretary General of the International Energy Forum; and Mr Lucian Pugliaresi, President of the Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc.
Other experts who participated came from international institutes such as ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI); governmental offices such as General Department of Petroleum (GDP) of Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) of Cambodia, Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE ) of Myanmar, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID); as well as industrial companies such as Cheniere, Chevron, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), DataFusion, ExxonMobil, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), LNG Japan, Mitsui, Mitsubishi, PTT Energy Resources, Tellurian, Inc., and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).
The workshop participants discussed the latest developments in the dynamics of the LNG sector in recent years.There were several key issues that were discussed in detail, such as the significant expansion of demand in East Asia, emerging markets for LNG, uncertainties of future demand and future supply regionally as well as globally, an increase in export capacity from the U.S., financing issues with new LNG projects, as well as pricing mechanism and cost competitiveness of LNG.
This year, the project will continue with one workshop in Bangkok in August and another one in Washington, D.C. in September. Both workshops will be held in cooperation with the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) and Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. (EPRINC). The full report of the project is scheduled to be published around June-July 2019 and can be accessed for free on ERIA’s website.
动态二：东亚东盟经济研究中心最新出版物
1. Innovation Policy in ASEAN
Innovation Policy in ASEAN is a first attempt at a comprehensive innovation study of ASEAN. The book includes not only an overall theoretical framework for ASEAN, but also individual country analyses based on detailed data, empirics, case studies including both those of success and of failure, and concrete policy recommendations ranging from national to ASEAN-wide regional innovation policies. For ASEAN it is important not only to increase investment in R&D and innovative activities, but also to enhance innovation capability’s physical and intangible characteristics, and improve the environment where innovation tends to take place. In the face of this significant challenge, achieving innovation can help each ASEAN Member State sophisticate its economies and industrial structures in the years to come.
Full Report :
http://www.eria.org/uploads/media/Innovation_Policy_in_ASEAN.pdf
2. Lao PDR Energy Statistics 2018
Insufficient information and inadequate capacity to carry out comprehensive energy planning are identified as the main contributing factors to the current circumstances of the energy sector in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). To overcome such constraints, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) requested technical support from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). ERIA’s president responded very positively to Lao PDR’s request for support, and ERIA subsequently deployed technical staff and its expertise to support staff of MEM from Department of Energy, Policy and Planning (DEPP) to collect data and conduct analysis for the formulation of this ‘Lao National Energy Statistics’.
This project and publication have greatly enhanced energy policy planning in Lao PDR. For the sustainability of the Project, the DEPP of the MEM will establish a systematic collection of energy data from various energy supply companies and other government agencies/corporations, so that energy data and statistics can be published continuously into the future. Having a good energy statistics will allow Lao PDR to contribute to and share data with ASEAN, International Energy Agency, Joint Organization Data Initiative (JODI), and other international forums and arenas.
Full Report :：http://www.eria.org/uploads/media/0_Lao_PDR_Energy_Statistics_2018_complete_book.pdf
动态三：国际货币基金组织 (IMF) 最新动态
1. IMF Executive Board Concludes 2018 Article IV Consultation with the People’s Republic of China
On July 18, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with China.
The Chinese economy continues to perform strongly. GDP growth accelerated to 6.9 percent in 2017, driven by a cyclical rebound in global trade. Growth is projected to weaken slightly to 6.6 percent in 2018 owing to the lagged effect of financial regulatory tightening and the softening of external demand. Headline inflation has remained contained at around 2 percent and is expected to rise gradually to 2½ percent.
Reforms progressed in several key areas. A wide range of regulatory reforms reduced financial sector risks, overcapacity reduction progressed, anti-pollution efforts intensified and opening-up accelerated recently. Credit growth slowed significantly, but remained strong.
动态四：联合国粮食及农业组织(FAO)最新动态
1. Building climate resilience for food security and nutrition
New evidence in SOFI 2018 confirms a rise in world hunger: the number of people who suffer from hunger has been growing over the past three years, returning to levels from almost a decade ago. Multiple forms of malnutrition are evident in many countries: adult obesity is growing even as forms of undernutrition persist.
The report says that climate variability and extremes are key drivers behind this rise, together with conflict and economic downturns, and are threatening to erode and reverse gains made in ending hunger and malnutrition. SOFI 2018 reveals new challenges on the road to Zero Hunger, while setting out urgent actions needed to achieve the goal by 2030.
动态五： 亚洲开发银行(ADB)最新动态
1. PRC 2019 Growth Outlook Revised to 6.3%, 2018 Steady at 6.6% — ADB
Slower demand growth and an unfavorable trade environment has dampened the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) growth outlook for 2019, although supply-side reform, strong service sector growth, as well as monetary and fiscal support will keep the PRC’s economy on track, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In an update of its flagship annual economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2018, ADB projects that gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2019 for the world’s second largest economy will moderate to 6.3% from 6.4%. The growth outlook for 2018, meanwhile, remains unchanged at 6.6%, buoyed by strong economic performance in the first half of the year despite a slight moderation in the second quarter.
Further escalation of the ongoing trade conflict between the US and the PRC could present downside risks, according to the report. It could deflate consumer and investor confidence, severely disrupt supply chains, impede technology transfer and foreign investment, and hit export-oriented industries in the PRC. While a more expansionary fiscal policy with higher infrastructure spending helps to sustain economic growth in the short run, the ADO update points out that over the longer term, it increases the financial burden on local governments, necessitating expedited reform of intergovernmental fiscal relations.
2. ADB Approves Key Loan Under Yangtze River Economic Belt Framework
The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors today approved a $150 million loan to protect a water basin of the Yangtze River, the longest river in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The loan for a complementary set of initiatives to improve flood management, clean water supplies, and ecological conservation in the Longxi River watershed is a key project under ADB’s new Yangtze River Economic Belt Framework. The framework will provide around $2 billion over 2018–2020 to support the twin issues of economic and environmental development in the upper and middle reaches of the river. It supports the PRC government’s focus on development along the Yangtze River and continues ADB’s longstanding work in the area.
