{
  "title": "Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar — Asia-Pacific Economic Outlook: How to Navigate Waves of New Variants",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/countries/resrep/oap-home/2021/asia-pacific-regional-seminar-1110",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/countries/resrep/oap-home/2021/asia-pacific-regional-seminar-1110",
  "overlayPath": "/en/countries/resrep/oap-home/2021/asia-pacific-regional-seminar-1110/index.md",
  "summary": "5% due to new peaks in the pandemic cycle driven by the highly contagious Delta variant, and upgraded projected growth in 2022 to 5.",
  "profileBlocks": [
    {
      "type": "office",
      "heading": "Contact",
      "lines": [
        {
          "text": "For event inquiries:"
        },
        {
          "text": "International Monetary Fund"
        },
        {
          "text": "Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific"
        },
        {
          "text": "Tel. 81-(0)3-3597-6700"
        },
        {
          "text": "Email: TokyoConference@IMF.org",
          "href": "mailto:oapmedia@imf.org",
          "linkText": "TokyoConference@IMF.org",
          "links": [
            {
              "href": "mailto:oapmedia@imf.org",
              "linkText": "TokyoConference@IMF.org"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Economic outlook and key findings",
      "content": "- The IMF recently downgraded 2021 growth in Asia and the Pacific to 6.5% due to new peaks in the pandemic cycle driven by the highly contagious Delta variant (reported by the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP)).\n- The IMF upgraded projected growth in 2022 to 5.7% based on accelerating vaccination rates (reported by the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP)).\n- Two analytical chapters highlighted in the webinar:\n  - Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and the effects of vaccinations on health and economic outcomes (Chapter 3).\n  - How trade liberalization can boost productivity and limit scarring from the crisis (Chapter 4).\n- Participation: More than 220 people from 23 countries in Asia and beyond participated in the virtual seminar (hosted by the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP))."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Presentations and agenda",
      "content": "- 11:00-11:05 am — Introduction (IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP)).\n- 11:05-11:25 am — Presentation: \"Navigating Waves of New Variants: Pandemic Resurgence Slows the Recovery\"; presenter: Chikahisa Sumi, Director, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, IMF.\n- 11:25-11:40 am — Presentation: \"Leveraging Opportunities from COVID-19 Vaccines: Early Lessons from Asia (Ch. 3)\"; presenter: Nour Tawk, Economist, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF.\n- 11:40-11:55 am — Presentation: \"Reigniting Asia’s Growth Engine through Trade Liberalization (Ch. 4)\"; presenter: Siddharth Kothari, Economist, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF.\n- 11:55-12:25 pm — Q&A session.\n- 12:25-12:30 pm — Closing & post-event survey."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Speakers and roles",
      "content": "- Chikahisa Sumi — Director, IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP). Work highlights cited by the IMF:\n  - Seven years working on Asia and the Pacific countries in the IMF, including leading missions to the Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand and Fiji.\n  - Headed the Financial Sector Surveillance Group of the Asia and Pacific Department (APD).\n  - Led the Future of Asia’s Finance project, including the publication of “The Future of Asian Finance” book in 2015.\n  - Previously held key positions in the Japanese Government, including Deputy Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs, and Deputy Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency.\n  - Educational background: LL.B. from the University of Tokyo (1982) and an MBA from Harvard University (1986).\n- Nour Tawk — Economist, IMF Asia and Pacific Department, Regional Studies Division; desk economist for Malaysia. Research interests and background as reported by the IMF:\n  - Former economist in the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department.\n  - Research interests include emerging market economies’ policy responses to capital flows, spillovers from unconventional monetary policies, and systemic variations in bilateral exchange rates.\n  - Educational background: MA and PhD in Economics from Keio University in Tokyo.\n- Siddharth Kothari — Economist, IMF Asia and Pacific Department, desk economist for Australia and Regional Studies Division. Research interests and background as reported by the IMF:\n  - Previously an economist in the Research Department and the African Department of the IMF.\n  - Research interests include macroeconomics, development, labor markets, and inequality.\n  - Educational background: PhD in Economics from Stanford University."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Contact for press inquiries",
      "content": "- Press Officer: Yuko Maeda (IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP))\n- Tel: 81-(0)3-3597-6719\n- Email: OAPMedia@IMF.org"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "The IMF recently downgraded 2021 growth in Asia and the Pacific to 6.5% due to new peaks in the pandemic cycle driven by the highly contagious Delta variant (reported by the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP)).",
    "The IMF upgraded projected growth in 2022 to 5.7% based on accelerating vaccination rates (reported by the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP)).",
    "Two analytical chapters highlighted in the webinar:",
    "Participation: More than 220 people from 23 countries in Asia and beyond participated in the virtual seminar (hosted by the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP)).",
    "11:00-11:05 am — Introduction (IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP)).",
    "11:05-11:25 am — Presentation: \"Navigating Waves of New Variants: Pandemic Resurgence Slows the Recovery\"; presenter: Chikahisa Sumi, Director, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, IMF.",
    "11:25-11:40 am — Presentation: \"Leveraging Opportunities from COVID-19 Vaccines: Early Lessons from Asia (Ch. 3)\"; presenter: Nour Tawk, Economist, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF.",
    "11:40-11:55 am — Presentation: \"Reigniting Asia’s Growth Engine through Trade Liberalization (Ch. 4)\"; presenter: Siddharth Kothari, Economist, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF.",
    "11:55-12:25 pm — Q&A session.",
    "12:25-12:30 pm — Closing & post-event survey.",
    "Chikahisa Sumi — Director, IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP). Work highlights cited by the IMF:",
    "Nour Tawk — Economist, IMF Asia and Pacific Department, Regional Studies Division; desk economist for Malaysia. Research interests and background as reported by the IMF:",
    "Siddharth Kothari — Economist, IMF Asia and Pacific Department, desk economist for Australia and Regional Studies Division. Research interests and background as reported by the IMF:",
    "Press Officer: Yuko Maeda (IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP))",
    "Tel: 81-(0)3-3597-6719",
    "Email: OAPMedia@IMF.org",
    "**IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, Chapter 3, October 2021**",
    "**IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, Chapter 4, October 2021**",
    "**IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, October 2021**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, Chapter 3, October 2021",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-chapter-3-vaccine-presentation.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-chapter-3-vaccine-presentation.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-chapter-3-vaccine-presentation.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    },
    {
      "title": "IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, Chapter 4, October 2021",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-chapter-4-trade-presentation.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-chapter-4-trade-presentation.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-chapter-4-trade-presentation.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    },
    {
      "title": "IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, October 2021",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-presentation-shortversion.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-presentation-shortversion.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2021/apdreo-presentation-shortversion.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/countries/resrep/oap-home/2021/asia-pacific-regional-seminar-1110/index.md",
    "json": "/en/countries/resrep/oap-home/2021/asia-pacific-regional-seminar-1110/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/countries/resrep/oap-home/2021/asia-pacific-regional-seminar-1110/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-30T19:20:21.192Z"
}