JICA-RI and ADB Co-host Governance Report Consultation

In his opening remarks, Mr. Tomomi Tamaki, Representative of ADB Japanese Representative Office, introduced ADB activities as well as the objective of the meeting prior to the consultation.

Without a break, Dr. Zveglich, outlining the report, presented his view: “While governance matters for growth and development, Asia’s progress in closing the governance gap with advanced economies lags its economic achievement. Improving public service delivery can be an effective entry point towards a wider range of governance reform.”

Subsequently, JICA Visiting Senior Advisor Kyoko Kuwajima and Institute of Developing Economies Senior Research Fellow Takeshi Kawanaka commented Zveglich’s presentation.

Professor Kuwajima stated that the report carefully includes a range of governance indicators taking their respective advantages and disadvantages into account in analyzing the correlation between governance and development. She continued that the regression analysis indicates a diversity of governance in Asia region and improves governance in ways that respect such diversity and accommodate historical and social context within the region. She, however, pointed out the gap-filling approach focusing on narrowing the governance gap between Asian states and OECD countries, set as a benchmark, could be irreconcilable with the approach based on the governance diversity of Asia region. She also agreed with Dr. Zveglich’s point that focusing on a public service delivery is a realistic and practical way for better governance and articulated the importance of thematic case studies to identify the effective ways to deliver services.

Senior Research Fellow Kawanaka, meanwhile, argued that governance should not be treated as one single issue, but instead, should be divided into two elements, namely state capacity and democracy. He also referred to the need for understanding the sequence of establishing “governance” as a transition from state capacity development to democracy consolidation, along with the importance of focusing on the political context and social structure.

Lastly, an active exchange of views with the floor followed the above comments. Kitano closed the consultation, stating that JICA-RI will keep promoting cooperation and collaboration with ADB.