Illustrative image. A boy plays with bubbles on the walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)must make greater efforts to improve the quality of life in the region to builda resilient community and achieve a faster recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,said a new report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The region's path to progress must focus on achieving success in areas likereading, math, and science, better nutrition, and access to quality healthcare,the report noted.
According to ADB Director General for Southeast Asia Winfried Wicklein,fortifying health systems, raising the quality of education, and improvingnutrition will equip young workers physically, mentally, and emotionallyand improve their productivity as the region emerges from the COVID-19pandemic.
He said that rising incomes and a rapid reduction in poverty rates,along with improvements in financial inclusion and internet penetration willhelp the region overcome reversals in development gains caused by the pandemic.
The report also urged the ASEAN member countries to invest in digital skills,infrastructure, and finance to reduce the cost of business and build a morecompetitive region.
Lockdownmeasures implemented to curb the spread of the pandemic in the ASEAN countries ledto a 3.2% contraction in the region's gross domestic product in 2020, whilethe growth improved to 3.5% in 2021 and rose further to 5.6% in 2022, accordingto the report.
ASEAN comprises 10 members, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, thePhilippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam./.
