In this regard, a number of developing economies in the region will need to further invest and upgrade their infrastructure to fully realise their growth potential. Infrastructure development generates employment, improves access to basic services and economic opportunities, promotes trade and investment, reduces the cost of doing business and encourages private sector development. It raises income and helps reduce poverty by spreading the benefits of growth more widely. The rising standard of living will in turn generate domestic demand, providing a new source of growth even as global demand continues to slow. ADB estimates that Asia needs as much as $ trillion in overall infrastructure investment between 2010 and 2020, with an average of $ billion in annual infrastructure spending. While the infrastructure needs are huge, Asia also has vast foreign reserves and private domestic savings. Traditionally, these savings have not been channelled to meet Asia’s own financing needs directly. Most of the savings have been invested in advanced economies before they are recycled back into the region. However, the global financial crisis has changed the landscape. Investors are increasingly looking to diversify their portfolio to this part of the world in the light of the faster growth and stronger fundamentals of the region. So there seems to be no lack of appetite to invest in Asia. The question is how to channel these funds to finance Asia’s infrastructure investment needs. Creating an enabling environment to facilitate private sector investment in infrastructure projects is crucial and fundamental.
Eddie Yue: Investment in infrastructure is crucial to Asia’s growth Statement by Mr Eddie Yue, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Head of the Delegation of Hong Kong, for the 46th Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting, Delhi, 4 May 2013. *  *  *  I would like to thank the Government of India for hosting the 46th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Haruhiko Kuroda for his excellent work in leading ADB for more than eight years. We welcome the appointment of Mr Takehiko Nakao as the new President of ADB, and look forward to continue working closely with the Bank under his leadership in furthering the development of the region. Global economic sentiment has improved since the beginning of this year. The announcement of further accommodative monetary easing by major advanced economies has reduced tail risks and stabilised financial markets. But while the accommodative monetary policy will help authorities buy time to solve the problem, it is by no means a substitute for medium-term fiscal consolidation and structural reforms that are required for the economy to regain competitiveness and return to a sustainable path. Looking ahead, economic adjustments and deleveraging in both the public and private sectors are set to continue in the advanced economies, and regional economies will increasingly have to look to themselves for new sources of growth.