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Towards a harmonized disability data system
Get PDFIn Asia and the Pacific, 750 million men,women and children, accounting for approximately 16 per cent of the total population in the region, live with some form of disability. The number is expected to rise over the next decades as a combined effect of population ageing, chronic health conditions and other factors. Despite this substantial figure, individuals with disabilities often find themselves unnoticed, unheard, and uncounted, contributing to their marginalization. The ability of governments in Asia and the Pacific to implement public policies and programmes that promote inclusion and address the barriers facing persons with disabilities, is shaped by the availability of high-quality and disaggregated data. While current data collection tools and
methodologies provide valuable insights, they
often face several limitations including fixed
question sets, small samples and a narrow
focus. As a result, disability data often fail to
reflect the complexity and diversity of
disability, leading to the exclusion of
vulnerable populations and hindering a
comprehensive understanding of the disability
landscape. To establish true inclusion, a robust
disability data system is vital. This system
should assist in identifying policy needs, policy
development, implementation, monitoring,
and evaluation. To ensure its efficacy, a degree
of harmonization is crucial. This
harmonization can be achieved through a
concise set of shared questions integrated into
data tools, covering the spectrum of
information essential for their diverse aims. The aim of this policy brief is to provide
insights and recommendations on the
structuring of a disability data system that
effectively serves multiple purposes. This system is
intended to capture the intricate nature of
disabilities and offer data for monitoring
populations, designing and implementing
inclusive policies and programmes. The policy
brief emphasizes the need for coherent data
collection methods across various sources and
instruments. By advocating for a common core set
of questions to identify individuals with
disabilities, the brief seeks to enhance data
consistency, facilitate comparisons between data
sources, and enable more accurate policy
formulation and assessment. The overarching goal
is to create a comprehensive disability data
framework that contributes to a more inclusive
society by addressing the diverse needs and
challenges faced by persons with disabilities. </p
The digitalization of tax administrations in Asia and the Pacific : a manual for practitioners
Get PDFThe manual was presented at an online ESCAP workshop on “The digitalization of tax administrations in Asia and the Pacific” on 26 October 2022The manual is designed to be a useful resource for tax officials,
policymakers responsible for domestic revenue mobilization, and IT staff
or tax professionals in nations exploring how to establish an integrated
platform for managing tax to enhance compliance. The manual explains
the foundations of tax ICT in tax administration, the main challenges
in taxation, and tax compliance risk management and it describes
the most essential components of innovative new technologies, such
as AI and Blockchain, from a practical standpoint. In this regard, the
key agents involved in the administration of tax obligations from the
managerial and operational arenas, such as tax experts and data
analysts, can use this manual as a resource to delve deeper into the
possibilities offered by ICT and taxatio
New energy vehicle policies and promotion in China
No full textGiven the growing interest in electric mobility in the Asia and Pacific region, the current report presents some of the key factors which allowed the New Energy Vehicle industry and market to expand at such a rapid rate in China. They have been grouped under three main themes: policy environment; economic and social environment; and technological and charging environment.
China’s emergence as a global leader on electric mobility is the outcome of continuous policy support and the provision of fiscal and tax incentives provided by the government since 1991.The planning steps involved developing standards and regulations for electric vehicles, and charging infrastructure, supporting various business models, and ensuring market access. Collaboration between government, research institutes, industries, and the private sector was key to the successful transition towards new energy vehicles in China. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region can learn from China's experiences and adapt these polices to their local context.</p
Preferential trade agreements trends and developments in Asia and the Pacific 2023/2024
No full text• The Asia-Pacific region continues to be the largest contributor to the worldwide build-up of preferential trade agreements (PTAs), accounting for about half of PTAs worldwide. PTAs have become bigger, deeper, and increasingly covered issues related to digital trade as well as sustainable development.
• The noodle-bowl of Asia-Pacific trade agreements now comprises 355 PTAs, with at least one party of the Asia-Pacific. Of those, 219 are in force, 21 have been signed and are pending ratification, and 97 are still under negotiation. Between January 2023 and November 2023 alone, eight new PTAs were signed, and 13 PTAs were under negotiation. Notably, most of these agreements are aligned with the prominent trend of the Asia-Pacific trade agreements of forming bilateral trade agreements with economies outside the region.
• Large PTAs in the region have expanded their memberships. The United Kingdom has successfully acceded to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), while the Republic of Korea has formally joined the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). In addition, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed in principle to accept Timor Leste as its 11th member.
• Trade among PTA partners now accounts for about half of all trade by Asia and the Pacific economies – approximately 49 per cent of exports and 53 per cent of the total imports. East and North-East Asia, and South-East Asia, are actively engaged in negotiating trade agreements.
• Fifty-three per cent of in-force PTAs now go beyond liberalization of trade in goods, including addressing issues related to digital and sustainable development. The most common policy areas that are covered in Asia-Pacific PTAs, outside preferential tariffs, are ‘trade facilitation and customs cooperation’ followed by ‘competition policy’, and ‘intellectual property’. These areas are now found in more than 50 per cent of the signed and enforced PTAs.
• Since 2003, the inclusion of sustainable development and digital in Asia-Pacific PTAs has accelerated. As of November 2023, of the 240 signed and in force PTAs, there are 135 PTAs that have sustainable development-related provisions (including provisions related to labour protection, human rights, gender, health, environment and SMEs). Meanwhile, 110 PTAs have digital (e-commerce) provisions.
• A new type of stand-alone ‘digital trade agreement’ (DTA) or ‘digital economy agreement’ (DEA) has reached seven agreements, up from five agreements in 2022. The two new agreements are Singapore-EFTA DEA and the Republic of Korea-EU DTA. Both of them are still under negotiation. Additionally, the European Union has launched digital partnership frameworks with three advanced Asia-Pacific economies since 2022, including those with Japan and the Republic of Korea (2022) and Singapore (2023).
• In parallel with the expansion of PTAs, less formal agreements have also expanded. Specifically, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) has been established, while BRICS has announced its membership expansion for the first time since its establishment.</p
Foreign direct investment trends and outlook in Asia and the Pacific 2023/2024
No full text• Asia and the Pacific witnessed US 224 billion had been recorded. 2023 appears to be on track to match – and exceed – the project announcements in terms of capital investment levels of 2022.
• As of September 2023, outward Greenfield announcements in Asia and the Pacific have already surpassed the levels recorded in the first three quarters of 2022 by 32 per cent, increasing from US 305 billion in 2023. After 2017 and 2022, outward Greenfield FDI announcements are surpassing inward flows for the third time in the past decade.
• Subregional data highlights three key trends. First, ASEAN countries’ stability, digitalization, adoption of sustainable policies and targets, and growth histories maintain it as a top region within the Asia-Pacific region for Greenfield FD. Second, India’s potential for rapid growth, educated labour pool and large domestic market will similarly ensure its place among the largest receiving countries for FDI in the region and globally in the medium term. Third, China is increasingly looking outward, investing more in its neighbours, particularly within ASEAN.
• Locations in Asia-Pacific are being increasingly chosen due to dynamic qualitative factors, such as a skilled workforce, rather than static quantitative factors, such as low-cost considerations. From 2013-2017, investors’ most cited determinants for investment in the Asia-Pacific region were domestic market growth, proximity to markets or customers and the regulatory environment. Since then, skilled workforce availability has entered the top three most influential factors.
• This observation – locations in Asia-Pacific being increasingly chosen due to dynamic qualitative factors rather than static quantitative factors – is reinforced by the number of incentives deals concluded over the years. With the exception of the COVID- 19 pandemic and its immediate aftermath, where (mostly fiscal) government support measures were hiked up, incentives deals in the region have been continuously declining since 2014.
• Economies are increasingly competing through pro-active investment attraction, not least as the challenge to established patterns of Greenfield FDI is opening up new opportunities for countries that have traditionally been overlooked. In terms of strategy, it is imperative that IPAs and the responsible line ministries co-operate to integrate FDI into coherent national development strategies. In terms of execution, IPAs should support the entire investment development life cycle, ranging from image building and marketing, investor targeting, servicing and facilitation, to aftercare and policy advocacy. To maximize benefits, strategy and execution should be regularly monitored and evaluated to make sure they result in the desired outcomes. This way, IPAs can influence investment patterns and contribute to the national development agenda, especially around boosting FDI in and for sustainable development.</p
Discovering inclusive business models Viet Nam
Get PDFAn interview on inclusive business Viet Nam.
VINASAMEX is an inclusive business that specializes in certified organic cinnamon and
star anise grown in the mountainous and poorer provinces of Viet Nam. Their products
are cultivated, hand-harvested, and processed with strict controls to achieve the highest
quality in line with international standards. The company’s work and investment in
human capital have paid off not only financially, but also socially, improving the life of
thousands of female farmers and their families.</p
Asia-Pacific trade and investment trends brief 2022/2023 : Papua New Guinea
No full textThis brief covers recent trends and developments in trade and investment. It has been produced as an accompaniment to the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends 2022/2023.</p
Asia-Pacific trade and investment trends brief 2022/2023 : North and Central Asia
No full textThis brief covers recent trends and developments in trade and investment. It has been produced as an accompaniment to the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends 2022/2023.</p