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Get news and updates on initiatives to advance inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

Solar engineers in Indonesia

Several ASEAN countries now have among the highest electric vehicle sales penetration of any country in the world. Photo credit: ADB.

Southeast Asia Leads Global Boom in Electric Vehicle Sales

Emerging markets in the region are no longer catching up in adopting electric vehicles; they are leading the shift to electric mobility.

Air pollution remains one of the region’s most urgent public health and environmental challenges, yet it also presents one of the greatest opportunities for collaboration by delivering climate gains and cross-sectoral co-benefits across economies. Photo credit: ADB.

Shared Atmosphere, Shared Responsibility: ASEAN Solutions for Better Air

On 13 March, a session at the Better Air Quality Conference 2026 will spotlight how regional cooperation can drive cleaner air, healthier people, and more resilient ecosystems.

On 4 February, the ASEAN Secretariat and ADB organized a joint consultative meeting with the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre, the Centre for the IMT-GT, and the GMS Secretariat in Jakarta. From left: Jason Rush, principal regional cooperation specialist at ADB; Alfredo Perdiguero, head of Regional Cooperation and Integration at ADB’s Southeast Asia Department; and ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community Satvinder Singh. Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat.

ASEAN Secretariat, ADB Convene Joint Consultation Meeting with BIMP-EAGA, IMT-GT, and GMS Secretariats

Increased collaboration and coordination in agriculture, energy, and tourism is being explored.

Asia is in the cusp of a major economic pivot, with nearly 1 billion people expected to join the middle class by 2035. Photo credit: ADB.

Advancing Inclusive Growth Research in Asia

The goal is to aid programs, policies, and interventions that support inclusive economic participation and digital empowerment for underserved populations.

The program aims to benefit farmers, healthcare workers, vocational school and university students, those seeking employment, domestic workers or caregivers, as well as professionals, managers, executives, and technicians. Photo credit: ADB.

AVPN's AI Fund Expands Skilling Infrastructure for a Future-Ready Workforce across Asia–Pacific

An additional $10 million allotted last year will now fund the program's phase two.

ASEAN member states and ADB conducted an information session on energy resilience on the sidelines of the recent ASEAN Special Senior Officials’ Meeting on Energy in Bohol, Philippines.

Securing an Energy-Resilient Future for ASEAN

Senior energy officials explore a common agenda for insulating energy systems from instability and climate and supply chain shocks.