A worker refuels a jeepney at midnight in Quezon City, the Philippines, March 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
The monetary policy tightening by central banks globally and in the region, geopolitical risks, and lingering challenges of the pandemic are among the major reasons of the slowing down of the region's economic recovery, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.
MANILA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered its economic growth forecasts for developing Asia and the Pacific amid a worsened global outlook.
A supplement to the Asian Development Outlook 2022 released Wednesday expected the region's economy to grow by 4.2 percent this year and 4.6 percent next year, lower than its previous forecast in September at 4.3 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.
Even with the downgraded forecasts, the ADB said developing Asia will still do better than other regions globally in terms of growth.
The report said the monetary policy tightening by central banks globally and in the region, geopolitical risks, and lingering challenges of the pandemic are among the major reasons that slow down the region's recovery.
A small vendor picks food for a customer beside a street of Jakarta, Indonesia on Aug. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
"Asia and the Pacific will continue to recover, but worsening global conditions mean that the region's momentum is losing some steam as we head into the new year," ADB Chief Economist Albert Park said.
"Governments will need to work together more closely to overcome the lingering challenges of COVID-19, combat the effects of high food and energy price, especially on the poor and vulnerable, and ensure a sustainable, inclusive economic recovery," he added.
The ADB also lowered its forecast for inflation in developing Asia and the Pacific this year to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent. However, the bank raised its projection for next year to 4.2 percent from 4.0 percent due to inflationary pressures from energy and food.
As ADB's flagship annual economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook is published every April, with an update in September and brief supplements released generally in July and December.■
