News
From Law to Practice: ADB Supports Uzbekistan’s Next Phase of Insolvency Reform
ADB’s Law and Policy Reform (LPR) Program, under the Office of the General Counsel, has completed a major milestone in its insolvency reform partnership with Uzbekistan, launching an 820-page Commentary on the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Insolvency". In doing so, the LPR Program convened 30 economic court judges and undertook a diagnostic of the country’s insolvency framework for future reform initiatives.
ADB, UNEP, and India's National Green Tribunal Build Judicial Capacity for Climate and Ecological Protection
The International Conference on Climate and Environment Dynamics was held in New Delhi, India, on 19–20 September 2026. It was organized by India’s National Green Tribunal (NGT) in partnership with ADB and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
ADB Partnership with Judiciaries Highlighted at Chief Justices Conference
ADB reaffirmed its role as a trusted partner to judiciaries across Asia and the Pacific at the 20th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific in Seoul on 16-18 September 2026. Deputy General Counsel Jennifer Ngai in her address emphasized that strong judiciaries underpin predictable enforcement, investor confidence, public trust, and inclusive, sustainable development.
ADB Strengthens Investment Governance in Uzbekistan
On 20-28 August 2026, ADB delivered a series of capacity building workshops for Uzbekistan policymakers, prosecutors and judges on resilient investment governance, in partnership with the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade and Ministry of Justice. Participants discussed Uzbekistan’s Foreign Direct Investment legal framework, investor-state dispute settlement and the role of domestic institutions in supporting investor confidence and managing legal risks.
ADB, ADBI and ILI Advance Toolkit to Unlock Smallholder Finance
On 8–9 July 2026, ADB, together with ADB Institute (ADBI) and International Law Institute, convened a policy dialogue in Tokyo to refine the Asia Pacific Agricultural Finance Toolkit, a new resource designed to expand private finance for smallholder farmers.
ADB and WJP Navigate the Legal Dimensions of Air Quality Governance with Philippine Policymakers
ADB’s Law and Policy Reform (LPR) Program and the World Justice Project (WJP) are currently conducting a series of government consultations with environmental policymakers in the Philippines. Representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), were in attendance, notably from its Air Quality Management Section, Climate Change Service, Environmental Law Enforcement and Protection Service (ELEPS), and Legal Affairs Service.
Armenia Modernizes its Insolvency Framework with Landmark New Code
Armenia has taken a major step toward strengthening its business climate and economic resilience with the adoption of a new Insolvency Code. The landmark reform establishes a modern framework for business restructuring and insolvency, helping businesses recover from financial distress while improving confidence among creditors and investors.
ADB Training Boosts Cross-Border Mediation Capacity in Armenia
ADB Training Boosts Cross-Border Mediation Capacity in Armenia On 27–28 June 2026 in Yerevan, ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program and Armenia Resident Mission, in partnership with Armenia’s Ministry of Justice, delivered a two-day mediation training to strengthen alternative dispute resolution as part of ongoing justice sector reforms to reduce court backlogs, preserve business relationships and boost international investor confidence.
Unlocking Trade Finance for MSMEs and SMEs with Negotiable Cargo Documents
On 23 June 2026, through its Law and Policy Reform Program and in partnership with the UNCITRAL Secretariat, ADB examined the Convention’s implications. Ben Sandstad, ADB Unit Head for Trade and Supply Chain (Legal), delivered opening remarks, and Angelia Chia, Senior Counsel, moderated the discussion. Yanying Li, Legal Officer at UNCITRAL, briefed ADB staff on how the Convention works in practice and what it means for trade finance.
ADB Supports Integration of Environmental Law into Cambodian Judicial Education
On 28 May 2026, the Royal Academy for Justice of Cambodia (RAJC) launched its inaugural training program on environmental law for judge trainees. The program is anchored by a comprehensive curriculum developed and tested with the support of ADB. With this launch, the RAJC assumes full ownership of the environmental law training program, independently and sustainably preparing judges to adjudicate environmental cases.