The Promise of AI: Insights from the World Development Report 2026

October 22, 2026
Tokyo, Japan

The Promise of AI: Insights from the World Development Report 2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming economies, societies, and governments around the world. As a new general purpose technology, AI has the potential to enhance productivity, expand access to services, strengthen government capabilities, and create new opportunities for jobs, innovation and entrepreneurship. The World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence (WDR 2026), examines how developing countries can harness AI while managing associated risks and ensuring that benefits are broadly shared.

The Institute for Economic Development, in partnership with the United Nations University (UNU), the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), and the Japanese Association for Development Economics (JADE) are organizing an event to explore key findings and policy recommendations from the World Development Report 2026.

This event will bring together policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, private sector leaders, and students to explore the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption in developing countries — with a focus on Asia.

All times listed below are in Japan Standard Time (JST).

October 22, 2026
13:00-13:05	Introduction and Group Photo
13:00 - 13:25	Opening Remarks The opening session will feature remarks from the Government of Japan, the United Nations University, and the World Bank, offering perspectives on AI and development in Japan and across the broader regional and global landscape. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector, United Nations University & Under Secretary General of the United Nations Takaaki Nomoto, Director of the Multilateral Development Banks Division, Ministry of Finance, Japan
13:25 - 14:05	World Development Report 2026: Global Perspectives and a Regional Deep Dive This session will first present the key findings of the World Development Report 2026 (WDR 2026), including its main messages, analytical framework, development strategies, and policy recommendations on AI development. This will be followed by a regional deep dive on East Asia and the Pacific, examining how AI is shaping growth prospects, productivity, investment, and policy priorities in the region. Presentation 1: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence: Key Findings from the WDR 2026 Gaurav Nayyar, Economic Advisor and Director, World Development Report 2026, World Bank Group Presentation 2: AI in East Asia and the Pacific: Regional Economic Perspective Franziska Ohnsorge, Chief Economist for Asia, World Bank Group
14:05 - 14:45	Panel Discussion: AI Agenda in Japan and Asia—How Can Asia Harness AI for Development? The panel will bring together representatives from government agency, academia, development institutions, and the private sector to discuss how Japan and other Asian economies are already using AI, the opportunities it presents for addressing persistent development challenges, and the conditions required to translate technological access into meaningful and widely shared development gains. Panelists: Bambang Brodjonegoro, Dean, Asian Development Bank Institute Tomoyuki Yamada, Senior Director for Science, Technology, and Innovation & Digital Transformation Office, Governance and Peacebuilding Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency Akira Murata, Associate Professor, Juntendo University (JADE) Gaurav Nayyar, Economic Advisor and Director, World Development Report 2026, World Bank Group Moderator: Kerina Wang, Program Manager & Head of IED Tokyo, Development Economics Vice Presidency, World Bank Group
14:45 - 14:55	Q&A
14:55 - 15:00	Closing Remarks
15:00 - 16:00	Networking Session

	Bambang Brodjonegoro Dean, Asian Development Bank Institute
	Tshilidzi Marwala Rector, United Nations University & Under Secretary General of the United Nations
	Akira Murata Associate Professor, Juntendo University (JADE)
	Gaurav Nayyar Economic Advisor and Director, World Development Report 2026, World Bank Group
	Takaaki Nomoto Director of the Multilateral Development Banks Division, Ministry of Finance, Japan
	Franziska Ohnsorge Chief Economist for Asia, World Bank Group
	Kerina Wang Program Manager & Head of IED Tokyo, Development Economics Vice Presidency, World Bank Group
	Tomoyuki Yamada Senior Director for Science, Technology, and Innovation & Digital Transformation Office, Governance and Peacebuilding Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency