Asia is cruising at a fairly fast clip but there are certain clouds on the horizon. |
Asia needs to make sure its demographic dividend doesn't turn out to be its biggest problem. All those people arriving at urban train stations could be a big plus or a big minus. |
Asian governments are making significant progress in the fight against poverty. |
Despite all of this, we continue to be cautiously optimistic on developing Asia. |
Governments have no option but to perform. |
Governments must invest, plan and safeguard against things like that. At the same time, this region needs to increase the number of good jobs and education to prepare for fast-growing populations in cities. |
I think this is an issue that should not be politicized but has to be addressed with clinical objectivity. |
In Asia, for a long time we have been in denial about the sustainability of high oil prices. There is tremendous potential for Asia to improve efficiency. |
In India, for example, we could step back from 7-8 per cent growth to 3-4 per cent growth very easily within five to six years if unemployment and underemployment is not addressed. |
In order for rapid population growth to matter, a nation must steadily create good, decent- paying jobs to benefit from it. |
Just look at the organized sector of the economy in a country such as India, which employs less than 10 percent of workforce, you are worrying about this when there is a multitude of people completely being bypassed. |
Rapid poverty reduction requires not only high rates of economic growth but also that the benefits of this growth be distributed more equitably. |
Strengthening the inclusiveness of the growth process is a precondition to sustaining high growth rates. |
Strong economic growth alone won't solve the problem. |
The healthy expansion is expected to continue drawing on strong internal dynamics, particularly, growth in the PRC and structural improvements in South Asia. |