The 1997 Asian financial crisis led to closer economic ties that will put the region in good stead to weather shocks and a rise in protectionism, a new report has said.

The crisis was a ‘landmark event’ for the Asean+3 economies — comprising the 10 Asean nations and China, Japan and South Korea — that spurred intra-regional integration in trade and investment and led to systems to ease the impact of global threats.

One example is the Singapore- based Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro), which launched last Friday’s economic outlook report on the sidelines of the four-day 50th Asian Development Bank (ADB) board of governors’ meeting in Yokohama.

Report says 1997 crisis spurred integration, led to systems to ease impact of global threats

Amro is seen as the Asian version of the International Monetary Fund and has been described by Singapore Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat as an ‘early warning mechanism’ that can provide policy recommendations to avert crises.

It also runs the Chiang Mai Initiative, a safety net that started as a series of bilateral deals before it became a $240bn multilateral pact. It serves as a joint reserve that provides loans for countries in financial trouble.

At a separate panel, Japanese State Minister of Finance Minoru Kihara noted that the Asian financial crisis had “enhanced solidarity in Asia and brought resilience to its financial markets”.

A resolve towards multilateral ties helped ease the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis and the European Union debt crisis on Asia, he said. To ride out economic uncertainties, financial cooperation — through remaining open to free trade, foreign direct investment and capital flows — will be key.

Separately, ADB president Takehiko Nakao told a news conference that the region should continue its efforts to lower trade barriers.

— The Straits Times/ANN

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, May 8th, 2017