World Development Report 2026 Regional Consultation in Asia

December 17, 2025 - December 18, 2025
Tokyo, Japan

World Development Report 2026 Regional Consultation in Asia

The Tokyo Center of the World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the Government of Japan, successfully convened the Regional Consultation on the World Development Report (WDR) 2026: Artificial Intelligence for Development on December 17-18, 2025 in Tokyo. The consultation brought together senior policymakers, economists, and global experts to share regional perspectives that will inform the analytical framework and policy recommendations of the forthcoming WDR 2026.

Discussions focused on AI’s implications for jobs and productivity, public service delivery—particularly in health and education, and governance and regulatory readiness in developing economies. A keynote lecture by Susan Athey (Stanford Graduate School of Business) and a high-level panel featuring leaders from the World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, academia, and the United Nations synthesized insights from the consultation.

The event concluded with a Japan multistakeholder roundtable, underscoring Japan’s role as a strategic partner in advancing responsible, development-oriented AI adoption.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing development in Asia and the Pacific. As this emerging technology gains traction across economic sectors and policy arenas, its potential to boost innovation and enhance public service delivery is being increasingly recognized. However, without astute governance and regulatory safeguards, AI risks entrenching existing inequalities and digital divides.

The World Bank Group–Asian Development Bank Institute (WBG–ADBI) Regional Consultation is designed to gather and distil expert perspectives, policymaker approaches, and practitioner insights from across Asia and the Pacific to inform the development of the World Development Report 2026 (WDR 2026).

See and download the full agenda here.

Day 1 - December 17, 2025

The first day of discussions will be grounded in three substantive pillars.

Roundtable 1: Artificial Intelligence and Jobs, Innovation and Employment will explore the role of AI in driving labor market transformation, boosting productivity and innovation, and automating existing roles while creating new forms of employment.

Roundtable 2: Artificial Intelligence and Service Delivery will examine the integration of AI into government services, health and education systems, and social protection programs.

Roundtable 3: Artificial Intelligence, Governance and Regulations will tackle the various policy models and approaches to AI emerging across Asia and the Pacific, the balance they strike between innovation and protection, and their varying scope, stringency, and substance.

Roundtable 4: WBG-Japan Multistakeholder Consultation will focus specifically on the national landscape in Japan, bringing together previous discussions.

The four roundtables will include government officials, international policymakers, private sector practitioners, and academic experts.

Day 2 - December 18, 2025

The second day will begin with a keynote lecture on how AI is transforming industry and work, delivered by Susan Athey, Economics of Technology Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Academic Lead of WDR 2026, followed by a high-level panel discussion chaired by ADBI Dean Bambang Brodjonegoro and comprising WBG Chief Economist Indermit Gill, Asian Development Bank Chief Economist Albert Park, United Nations University Rector Tshilidzi Marwala, and Ufuk Akcigit and James Evans, Professors of Economics at Chicago University, as well as Susan Athey.

Collect evidence on AI adoption and regulation across the Asia and the Pacific. Through thematic roundtables, countries will be able to discuss AI and its implications for development. The participation of experts from regional and international organizations will allow the gathering of insights on the current and future trends on AI use for development across the region.
Identify the main challenges and opportunities countries in the region are facing with regard to AI development, adoption, and governance. The sessions on Day 1 will provide the opportunity to share and exchange national perspectives and experiences on the adoption and regulation of AI for development.
Evaluate policy frameworks and assess institutional readiness for AI. In a region characterized by both rapid digital innovation and significant development disparities, the conference will provide occasions to discuss the governance and regulations around AI use, addressing the main challenges related to these.
Highlight opportunities for regional cooperation in AI governance. The conference will discuss the potential of AI for development from both the national perspectives of the countries attending and the regional and subregional perspectives, to shed light on AI developments across the region.

Policymakers and government officials involved in digital transformation and AI governance
Private sector representatives from the AI industry
AI experts and analysts from academia
Representatives from international organizations focusing on AI