Global Launch - East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, October 2020

COVID-19 has delivered a triple shock to the developing East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region: the pandemic itself, the economic impact of containment measures, and reverberations from the global recession. 

Why were many economies in the region able to contain the disease while some others still struggle?  How have these shocks affected economic activity and poverty in different countries?  What are the prospects for recovery and how will longer term growth be affected across the region?  Is there a tension between containing the disease and providing relief today and promoting recovery and growth tomorrow?  

These key questions – addressed in the World Bank’s October 2020 EAP Economic Update – were discussed in this seminar. 

CHAIR: 
Victoria KWAKWA
Vice President,
East Asia and the Pacific Region
World Bank 

PRESENTERS: 
Aaditya MATTOO
Chief Economist, 
East Asia and the Pacific Region
World Bank 

Ergys ISLAMAJ
Senior Economist, 
East Asia and the Pacific Region
World Bank 

DISCUSSANT: 
Hassan ZAMAN
Regional Director, 
Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions
World Bank