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Asia-Pacific Quarterly Economic Update, August 2025
No full textHighlights
• GDP growth in Asia-Pacific developing economies remained steady in the first half of 2025, despite high global trade uncertainties.
• Many economies have introduced stimulus and support measures, as millions of workers could be adversely affected by the tariff hikes imposed by the United States.
• Several risks and uncertainties lie ahead, such as possible export slowdown after frontloading ahead of the earlier announced tariff hikes subsides.
• Special topic: The structural shift from agriculture to export-oriented manufacturing and modern services has brought economic prosperity to the region. However, this development model is facing several headwinds. Reviving a developmental state approach could be a way forward
Digitalization practices across the full spectrum of SME policies in the Republic of Armenia.
No full textFostering an inclusive green transition of MSMEs : insights for SME development agencies from programmes in Mesoamerica
No full textFostering an inclusive green transition of MSMEs : insights for SME development agencies from programmes in Mesoamerica.Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are vital to Mesoamerica’s economies and play a critical role in advancing the region’s green transition. This report, Fostering an Inclusive Green Transition of MSMEs: Insights for SME Development Agencies from Programmes in Mesoamerica, examines initiatives across Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and regional Cenpromype programmes. It analyses how MSME support schemes integrate environmental goals such as eco-innovation, finance, and market access, and inclusion priorities targeting women, Indigenous peoples, and other underrepresented groups.Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................iv
Executive summary................................................................................................................ 5
Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................. 8
1. Introduction....................................................................................................................13
1.1. The need for green transition in Mesoamerica and the role of MSMEs..13
1.2. Report objectives and structure ..........................................................................15
2. Obstacles to MSME greening and institutional enablers................................17
2.1. Barriers, policy constraints and inequities .......................................................17
2.2. Enabling policy and institutional landscape....................................................18
3. Analytical framework .....................................................................................................22
3.1. Inclusion targets and dimensions .......................................................................24
3.2. Case study assessment .........................................................................................25
4. Case Studies......................................................................................................................28
4.1. Colombia.....................................................................................................................28
4.1.1. Case study A: Productividad Verde............................................................29
4.1.2. Case study B: ECOS 2.0.................................................................................33
4.1.3. Case study C: Línea de Crédito Adelante Sostenible...........................37
4.2. Costa Rica...................................................................................................................39
4.2.1. Case study A: Mi Negocio Verde.................................................................41
4.2.2. Case study B: Mujeres Empresarias...........................................................45
4.2.3. Case study C: Iniciativa MIPYME Verde ....................................................50
4.2.4. Case study D: Códigos Verdes.....................................................................54
4.3. Guatemala..................................................................................................................57
4.3.1. Case study A: Programa de Incentivos Forestales y Apoyo...............59
4.4. Honduras....................................................................................................................64
4.4.1. Case study A: Impulsa Verde .......................................................................65
4.5. Mexico .........................................................................................................................69
4.5.1. Case study A: Programa de Recuperación Verde ..................................70
4.5.2. Case study B: Semillero de Empresarias..................................................74
4.5.3. Case study C: Green Accelerator and Impact Hub................................78
4.6. Cenpromype - Central America...........................................................................82
4.6.1. Case study A: MIPYMES Verdes .................................................................83
5. Analysis ..............................................................................................................................89
5.1. Depth of green transition focus...........................................................................89
5.2. Depth of inclusion focus ........................................................................................93
6. Recommendations and conclusion.......................................................................... 10
Pan-Asia Partnership for Geospatial Air Pollution information : assessment of air quality remote sensing in Philippines
No full textAir pollution is a growing national level environmental challenge in the Philippines, being the third highest risk factor driving adverse health outcomes. Among many countries in South-East Asia, the Philippines experiences high levels of PM2.5 attributable mortality which exceeds the global urban average (Tantengco and Guinto, 2022). Metro Manila is a prime location for studying locally produced urban anthropogenic aerosols, mostly Black Carbon (BC), mixed with biogenic, natural and anthropogenic pollutants from upwind areas (Braun et al., 2020). Prominent sources in the urban centres and highly populated cities include emissions from the industrial and transportation sectors, with mobile sources like cars, buses, motorcycles, etc., contributing to nearly 65 per cent of urban air pollution.List of Abbreviations....................................................................................................4 List of Figures ...................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. I. Air Pollution in Philippines:.......................................................................................7 II. Existing Use of Remote Sensing for Long-range Transport.....................................14 III. Status of Pandora and GEMS................................................................................18 Recommendations.....................................................................................................23 References.................................................................................................................2
Data governance for digital transformation
No full textMany countries are undergoing digital transformation to improve government operations through better use of data. Effective data governance ensures that government data is high-quality, accessible, secure, and ethically managed across agencies. National Data Governance Frameworks establish structures for coordinated decision-making and accountability. However, implementation poses challenges such as legal reforms, data sharing, cybersecurity, and interoperability. This module equips civil servants with the knowledge to implement effective national data governance for sustainable digital transformation
Leaving no one behind : Tajikistan country brief
No full textLeaving No One Behind (LNOB) tool helps discover how different circumstances interact to create unequal access to basic opportunities in Asia and the Pacific. The LNOB country brief for Tajikistan provides insights into which groups are further ahead and further behind in various SDG indicators and where the biggest gaps are found in terms of access to opportunities or prevalence of barriers between the furthest behind and the furthest ahead groups in Tajikistan
Bangladesh : jackfruit
No full textThe ESCAP Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia, in collaboration with the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, has developed a joint publication series titled Market Intelligence Series. This series aims to provide an overview of global and regional trade trends for One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) commodities. It highlights their current market performance and identifies potential entry points and opportunities for integrating these products into international value chains.
Highlights:
- Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest jackfruit
producer, after India, and accounts for about 21% of
the total fruit production of the country.
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, Italy, Canada and France are the main export
destinations, accounting for almost 85 percent of
Bangladesh’s jackfruit exports.
- The export concentration index for Bangladesh
was 0.59 in 2023, indicating the need for export
diversification.
- Enhancing supply chains, post-harvest handling,
and value addition can significantly boost Bangladesh’s jackfruit exports
Assistive technology for the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
No full textAcross Asia and the Pacific, persons with disabilities continue to face low economic participation, with women, young people, and those in rural and under-resourced areas experiencing the greatest barriers to work and the highest rates of vulnerable employment. Assistive technology (AT) plays a critical role in addressing these inequalities by enabling access to education, employment, financial services, and enhancing independence—all drivers of long-term economic empowerment. AT is also increasingly recognised by governments, private sector actors, and global partners as both a human rights obligation and a strategic economic investment. The commitments outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Incheon Strategy to ‘Make the Right Real’ for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, and the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032 collectively underscore the region’s responsibility to ensure affordable, appropriate, and accessible AT as a prerequisite for full participation in society and the labour market. This policy paper examines the state of AT access in the region, analyses systemic gaps across the AT ecosystem, and highlights promising practices of using low- to high-tech solutions to support economic inclusion of persons with disabilities across diverse employment sectors.Table of Contents
Glossary ............................................................................................................. 5
Executive Summary ............................................................................................. 7
I. Introduction ................................................................................................... 11
1.1 Purpose and scope of the working paper.................................................................. 13
1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 13
II. How can AT enhance economic empowerment?.............................................. 14
2.1 AT as a Foundational Enabler: Beyond Direct Economic Activity .............................. 17
2.2 The Critical Interdependence: AT Needs an Enabling Environment .......................... 18
III. The State of AT Access by Persons with Disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region 19
3.1 What are the key equity gaps impacting access to AT? ............................................ 20
IV. What are the barriers hindering access to AT in Asia and the Pacific? ............. 23
V. AT in Action: Leveraging AT to Enhance Economic Empowerment in Asia and the
Pacific .............................................................................................................. 28
5.1 Enabling Participation in Formal Employment........................................................... 28
5.2 Facilitating Engagement in Informal Employment..................................................... 31
VI. An Overview of the AT Ecosystem for Supporting Economic Inclusion in Asia
and the Pacific .................................................................................................. 40
6.1 What does the AT value chain currently look like in Asia and the Pacific?.......................... 40
6.2 Financing Mechanisms...................................................................................................... 42
6.3 AT Policy Frameworks....................................................................................................... 46
6.4 Research and Data............................................................................................................. 49
6.5 Inclusive Education and Vocational Training...................................................................... 50
6.6 AT User Engagement......................................................................................................... 53
6.7 System Strengthening Collaborations................................................................................ 57
6.8 AT Suppliers, Services and Investors................................................................................. 60
6.9 AT Awareness ................................................................................................................... 65
VII. Conclusion.................................................................................................. 67
VIII. Recommendations...................................................................................... 69
Bibliography...................................................................................................... 7