The 2024 forum, which was held in Jakarta, focused on digitalization as an opportunity for inclusive growth in Asia and the Pacific. Photo credit: ADB.
The annual forum promotes policy-relevant empirical research in key development issues.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is inviting researchers from think tanks and universities to submit papers for the Asian Think Tanks Network Forum 2025. This year’s theme is “Enabling Accessibility and Inclusion through Digital Trade and E-commerce.” The deadline for submission of abstracts is 18 April 2025.
ADB is organizing the annual forum in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). To be held in October, the forum will discuss how to narrow the knowledge gap on the role of digital trade in enabling inclusion. It will also talk about enhancing capacity of developing countries to conduct research in emerging areas concerning the digital economy.
All submissions should be original and must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere at the time of submission. Selected applicants will be notified by 16 May.
Topics of interest include the following:
- Impact of digital transformation measures (e.g., digital public infrastructure) on cross-border e-commerce activities in developing countries;
- State and drivers of cross-border e-commerce for goods or services (e.g., education, healthcare, tourism, financial) and opportunities and challenges;
- Empirical and/or case study evidence of impact of e-commerce on economic efficiency/productivity and market accessibility for goods or services trade;
- Empirical and/or case study evidence of impact of e-commerce on inclusion, affordability, and equitable accessibility-related outcomes for goods or services trade;
- Similarities and differences in e-commerce regulations across countries in subregions and the way forward for cross-border e-commerce;
- Trade facilitation as an enabler for cross-border e-commerce (subregional case studies, customs, border procedures and regulations); and
- Trends, developments, gaps, and challenges in digital economy cooperation/trade agreements on cross-border e-commerce for equity and efficiency.
The Asian Think Tanks Network (formerly ADB–Asian Think Tanks Network) is a network of think tanks and research centers actively engaged in the study of sustainable economic growth and inclusive development in Asia and the Pacific region. The network is led by ADB in partnership with ADBI.
Download the submission and selection procedure for more information. Submit abstracts through this link.
