In international development terms, Asia-Pacific is arguably a complicated case. Despite stellar economic growth, the region is still home to 60 percent of the world’s population who live on less than $2 a day.
Progress is therefore good but still lacking, and maybe the key to truly achieving sustainable development in this part of the world is getting rid of business-as-usual approaches and embracing new ways of thinking.
Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao, for one, firmly believes innovation can fast-track overall development in Asia-Pacific — and not just in the kind of programs the bank implements, but also in the way the institution views and positions itself in the rapidly evolving regional development landscape.
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About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
