News
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 Supports the Royal Academy for Justice Cambodia with Environmental Law Curriculum
ADB partnered with the Royal Academy for Justice of Cambodia (RAJC) to develop a groundbreaking judicial curriculum on environmental law and environmental judicial case management. This multi‑year initiative supports Cambodia in developing deeper capacity in environmental adjudication, reflecting Cambodia’s strong commitment to strengthening its environmental rule of law.
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 Strengthens the Fijian Justice System’s Response to Gender-Based Violence
From 23 October to 7 November, ADB delivered a series of four workshops in Nadi, Fiji, focused on selected issues concerning gender-based violence (GBV) offenses.
Fiji Enacts Landmark Forestry Act 2025
On 1 December 2025, Fiji’s Parliament enacted the new Forestry Act 2025, a transformative reform that replaces the 1992 Forest Decree and shifts the focus of Fijian forestry legislation from timber extraction to sustainable forest management. The act introduces an innovative operating model that modernizes the management of forest resources and supports economic growth. At the same time, its more efficient enforcement mechanisms will safeguard forest ecosystems and the rights of communities living in them.
ADB Partners with UNCITRAL, Korea Ministry of Justice, and ADBI to Promote Harmonization of ADR Across Asia and the Pacific
On 28 October 2025 in Seoul, South Korea, the ADR Special Session of the 11th annual Seoul ADR Festival gathered policymakers, legal professionals, and academics to explore ways of harmonizing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms and practices 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 Empowers Uzbekistan’s Digital Future Through E-Commerce Training
On 7–8 October 2025, ADB’s Law and Policy Reform (LPR) Program, in partnership with Uzbekistan’s Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship (GSBE), hosted a two-day training seminar titled Empowering Uzbekistan’s Digital Future: E-Commerce Trends, Legal Frameworks, and Global Opportunities.