The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts faster growth for developing economies in Asia and the Pacific this year, as the continued easing of pandemic restrictions boosts consumption, tourism, and investment.
The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) reopening—as it pivots away from its zero-COVID strategy—is the main factor brightening the region’s growth prospects.
Economies in Asia and the Pacific are projected to grow 4.8 percent this year and next year, improving on the 4.2 percent growth rate in 2022, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2023, released Tuesday. Excluding the PRC, developing Asia is expected to grow 4.6 percent this year and 5.1 percent in 2024. The region’s inflation, meanwhile, is forecast to moderate gradually toward pre-pandemic levels, though there is considerable variation across economies.
Improved consumption and investment are boosting recovery in many regional economies, offsetting the impacts of elevated food and energy prices caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other global headwinds. Tourism and remittances are trending upward as pandemic restrictions ease further. In many tourism-dependent economies, visitor arrivals are steadily improving toward pre-pandemic levels.
Risks to the outlook persist, however. A protracted or escalated Russian invasion of Ukraine could stoke renewed spikes in commodity prices and global inflation and induce further monetary tightening. Tighter global financial conditions, combined with the increase in debt over the past decade and during the pandemic, have elevated financial stability risks, as evidenced by the recent banking sector turmoil in the United States and Europe. These risks must be carefully monitored and proactively addressed, according to ADO April 2023.
“Prospects for economies in Asia and the Pacific are brighter, and they’re poised for a strong recovery as we return to normalisation following the pandemic,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park. “People are starting to travel again for leisure and work, and economic activities are gathering pace. Because many challenges remain, governments in the region need to stay focused on policies that support stronger cooperation and integration to promote trade, investment, productivity, and resilience.”
With the lifting of the zero-COVID strategy in December last year, the PRC economy is expected to grow 5.0 percent this year and 4.5 percent in 2024, compared with 3.0 percent growth in 2022. India, meanwhile, is forecast to expand by 6.4 percent this year and 6.7 percent next year, due to healthy domestic demand.
Strong tourism performance and robust domestic demand are boosting Southeast Asian economies like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, with the subregion projected to grow by 4.7 percent this year and 5.0 percent in 2024. Economies in the Caucasus and Central Asia can also expect steady growth, with the subregion forecast to expand by 4.4 percent this year and 4.6 percent in 2024. Continued reopening and tourism recovery are supporting growth in the Pacific, with expansion likely to reach 3.3 percent this year before moderating to 2.8 percent in 2024.
Regional inflation will decelerate to 4.2 percent in 2023 and 3.3 percent in 2024 after reaching 4.4 percent last year. Fading supply chain pressures, tighter monetary conditions, and declining though still elevated commodity prices are expected to shape developing Asia’s inflation outlook.
SOURCE: ADB/PACNEWS
