Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar: Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific
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Contact
For event inquiries:
International Monetary Fund
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: OAPEconomicSeminar@IMF.org
Event overview
- Event: Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar hosted by the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
- Title/theme: Navigating Trade Headwinds and Rebalancing Growth.
- Date: October 29 2025.
- Purpose: Present findings of the Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, discuss drivers of regional resilience, identify critical areas for policy reform, and evaluate potential gains from deeper trade integration.
Key findings from the Regional Economic Outlook
- Economic activity in Asia is holding up better than expected despite bearing the brunt of US tariffs.
- Resilience drivers identified:
- Strong exports.
- A tech boom.
- Supportive macro policies.
- Longer-run growth pattern:
- Asia has grown more slowly this decade than in the last.
- Risks and policy implications:
- There are risks to the current outlook that may warrant reforms.
- Reforms to make economic growth more resilient and sustainable will be critical.
Chapters and substantive focus
- Chapter 1: Conjunctural Analysis of Asia’s Economic Performance
- Assesses economic performance of Asian economies over the past year.
- Examines key drivers behind resilience amid recent tariff shocks.
- Outlines the near-term outlook and discusses risks and policy considerations facing the region.
- Chapter 2: Reshaping Value Chains: The Case for Deeper Asia-Pacific Trade Integration
- Explores shifting dynamics of Asia’s trade patterns and factors driving these changes amid ongoing tariff shocks.
- Notes the region is broadly open to trade but identifies critical areas for improvement.
- Evaluates potential gains from deeper trade integration.
Speakers and professional backgrounds
- Takashi Nagaoka — Director, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, IMF (opening remarks at 10:00 AM).
- Thomas Helbling — Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF.
- Swiss national.
- Oversees department’s work on China, Korea, and Mongolia, and on regional issues.
- Former mission chief for Mexico (Western Hemisphere Department) and for Indonesia and the Philippines (Asia Pacific Department).
- Chief of the World Economic Studies Division (2012-15); chief of the Australia-New Zealand Division and mission chief for both countries (2016-19).
- Recent research: commodity price dynamics and global economic conditions; global oil markets; international economic policy issues; international business cycle linkages; economic history.
- Education: doctorate in international economics from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Li CUI — Assistant Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF.
- Leads the department’s regional work on surveillance, cross-country research, and coordination of IMF’s policy issues.
- Rejoined the IMF in January 2025 in Washington DC.
- Prior career in financial markets in Hong Kong: Chief Economist roles at China Construction Bank International, Goldman Sachs, and Royal Bank of Scotland.
- Former Non-Executive Independent Director at a major financial institution.
- Two years at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority as a Division Head overseeing cross-border policy cooperation and market development.
- Began career at the IMF contributing to policy framework and country work.
- Education: B.A. from Renmin University of China; M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Northwestern University.
- Presenter list includes: Thomas Helbling, Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF; Li Chi, Assistant Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF.
Agenda and timing
- 10:00 AM — Opening; Takashi Nagaoka, Director, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, IMF.
- 10:05 AM — Presentation on Asia-Pacific Regional Economic Outlook (REO): “Navigating Trade Headwinds and Rebalancing Growth”
- Presenters: ; Thomas Helbling, Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF; Li Chi, Assistant Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF.
- Covered content:
- Chapter 1: Conjunctural Analysis of Asia’s Economic Performance (assessment of past year, drivers, near-term outlook, risks and policy considerations).
- Chapter 2: Reshaping Value Chains: The Case for Deeper Asia-Pacific Trade Integration (shifting trade dynamics, areas for improvement, potential gains from deeper integration).
- 10:45 AM — Q&A session.
- 11:15 AM — Closing & post-event survey.
Contact and outreach
- For press inquiries: Email: OAPMedia@IMF.org.
- Related IMF regional activities mentioned:
- Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar Series.
- High-level Economic Policy Conferences.
- Macroeconomist Training Program.
- Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia.
- Social and newsletter channels referenced: IMF Newsletter ー Tokyo; IMF Tokyo; IMF Asia Pacific Office; More on IMF Social Hab.
References
- Regional Office Website
- Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar: Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific, October 29 2025
- Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar Series
- High-level Economic Policy Conferences
- Macroeconomist Training Program
- Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia
- Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacifichighlights that economic activity in Asia is holding up better than expected, despite the region bearing the brunt of US tariffs. The resilience is explained by strong exports, a tech boom, and supportive macro policies. But Asia has grown more slowly this decade than in the last, and there are risks to the current outlook. Reforms to make economic growth more resilient and sustainable will be critical.