Navigating COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific

This book gathers analysis and ideas to help policy makers tackle the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and build a more resilient and sustainable future.

COVID-19 has unleashed unparalleled challenges, yet provides opportunities to rethink strategies to tackle inequality, socioeconomic vulnerability, and environmental issues. This book collects contributions from ADB staff and experts to help inform policy on diverse themes. These include tackling the economic fallout, supporting SMEs, protecting the vulnerable, ensuring food security, and building resilient trade and supply chains. The authors highlight the importance of quality infrastructure, disaster risk management, digital acceleration, and regional cooperation in building back better together.

Bambang Susantono is the Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He assumed the position in July 2015. Mr. Susantono manages ADB's Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, and the Department of Communications. Before joining ADB, he was Indonesian Vice-Minister of Transportation and Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Mr. Susantono has extensive experience providing policy advice to government, private sector organizations and international institutions. He has chaired several research institutes, taught in universities, and was commissioner for airline, port, telecommunications and media companies. Mr. Susantono has served as the President of Indonesia Intelligent Transport Society; Vice President of East Asia Society of Transportation Studies based in Tokyo, Japan; and Trustee of the SouthSouthNorth Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa.