Supporting Economic Recovery in Middle-Income Countries

Alignment of Higher Productivity and Quality Jobs Creation Amid High Indebtedness

The Institute for Economic Development in partnership with the Asian Development Bank Institute and The Southeast Asia Voting Group (EDS 16), World Bank Group, will be hosting this event on the sidelines of the 2026 WBG/IMF Spring Meetings.

Overview

As middle-income countries in Southeast Asia transition from crisis recovery toward more stable growth, policy priorities are increasingly focused on advocating productivity-driven structural transformation and creating quality jobs. In an uncertain global environment, sustaining progress toward high-income status requires reforms that strengthen firm competitiveness, improve resource allocation, and address debt-related constraints.   

This event will explore pathways for aligning economic recovery with higher productivity and quality employment creation. Drawing on Southeast Asia’s reform experiences and global evidence on firm dynamics and structural transformation, discussions will highlight actionable strategies to translate resilience into inclusive and competitive growth. Discussions will also examine how competitive markets, innovation, and efficient firm entry and expansion can sustain growth momentum.

Objectives

• Bring together leading think tank experts, international organizations, academia, and government leaders to examine crisis management challenges, including implications of high indebtedness, and identify policy approaches to strengthen resilience and support sustainable recovery pathways in middle-income countries.
• Explore strategies for aligning productivity-driven growth with quality job creation, drawing upon regional and global experiences to inform inclusive and competitive development.  

Speakers & Panelists

• H.E. Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Minister of Finance, Indonesia   
• H.E. Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, Malaysia  
• Bambang Brodjonegoro, Dean and CEO, Asian Development Bank Institute. 
• Wempi Saputra, Executive Director, Southeast Asia Voting Group, World Bank Group (EDS16)  
• Somik Lall, Director of Strategy, Office of the World Bank Group Chief Economist, Development Economics
• Homi Kharas, Senior fellow, Brookings Institution 
• Laura Alfaro, Chief Economist, Inter-American Development Bank

• Asa Johansson, Director of Policy Studies, Economics Department, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (TBC)