News
Bhutan Policymakers Explore the Operationalization of Insolvency Law during Study Tour to Singapore
From 25 to 27 February 2026, ADB’s Law and Policy Reform (LPR) Program, in partnership with the Rule of Law Programme of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), convened a study tour to Singapore for a delegation of 10 Bhutan government officials.
Why the Rule of Law Matters for Private Sector Growth in Asia and the Pacific
Across Asia and the Pacific, developing countries are turning to the private sector to drive job creation, innovation, and transition toward greener and more resilient economies. But private sector-led growth depends fundamentally on the existence of a clear, predictable, and enforceable rule of law environment.
ADB Spotlights Rule of Law for Private Sector Growth
At the Asia Pacific Business Forum on the Rule of Law in Tokyo on 25–26 January 2026, ADB General Counsel Thomas Clark highlighted that private sector-led growth depends on the existence of a clear, predictable, and enforceable rule-of-law environment.
Papua New Guinea Judiciary Visits ADB to Advance Legal Stability and Investor Confidence
The ADB Office of the General Counsel's Law and Policy Reform (LPR) Program team met with Papua New Guinea’s Deputy Chief Justice and senior court members on 6 January 2025, at the ADB Headquarters to strengthen judicial capacity for greater legal predictability and stability.
ADB Partners with UNCITRAL, Korea Ministry of Justice, and ADBI to Promote Harmonization of ADR Across Asia and the Pacific
On 28 October in Seoul, the ADB Office of the General Counsel joined the Republic of Korea Ministry of Justice, UNCITRAL, ADB Institute, and KCAB International for the ADR Special Session, an annual flagship event promoting legal harmonization across Asia and the Pacific.
ADB, ADBI, and ASEAN Secretariat Promote ADR as a Solution for Trade Disputes
On 8 October 2025 in Langkawi, Malaysia, ADB and the ADB Institute (ADBI) organized a workshop on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who are involved in trade, investment, and dispute settlement.
ADB Highlights Legal Reforms to Unlock Agrifinance for Smallholders at APEC Workshop
On 8 October 2025 in Tokyo, ADB General Counsel Thomas Clark spoke at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Workshop on Secured Finance to Facilitate Sustainable Economic Growth and Improve Food Security, organized by the Economic Committee.
ADB Law and Policy Reform Program and ADB Institute Form Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Cross-Border Dispute Resolution
On 9–12 September 2025 in Tokyo, ADB Institute and ADB’s Law and Policy Reform Program conducted a skills-based training focused on international mediation and the Singapore Convention for government officials across Asia and the Pacific, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, as part of the ADBI–ADB Alternative Dispute Resolution Education Program.
ADB Launches Training on FDI Legal Framework and Domestic Policymaking Towards Green Economic Transition
On 25-29 August 2025, ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program, in partnership with the Uzbekistan Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, convened government officials across multiple ministries mandated to drive policy change. They participated in an intensive workshop to familiarize themselves with the legal framework for FDI critical for the green economic transition, as well as its interaction with domestic policymaking to enable them to contribute more effectively to reform process and help mitigate dispute risk for the government.
ADB and ADBI Hold Third and Final Workshop in the Carbon Markets Webinar Series, on Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Attracting Financing
On 1 August 2025, the ADB Office of the General Counsel and the ADB Institute hosted the final webinar in the Carbon Markets Series, which focused on developing legal and regulatory frameworks. Attended by 35 participants, the session explored key elements for building effective carbon markets, managing risks and opportunities, and attracting financing. In particular, presentations highlighted private sector considerations for investing—for instance, market feasibility and safeguards against greenwashing—and the importance of integrity in climate-related disclosures.