Promoting Economic Growth
These women are part of a USAID program that provides work
opportunities for women in Afghanistan. While the women here still count on
wheat from the United States, many bakeries are already considering options for
becoming financially self sufficient.
ASIA BUREAU ECONOMIC GROWTH PROGRAMS
Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam
CONTACTS
Michael Blackman
Chief Economist
Tel: (202)
712-4103
Email:mblackman@usaid.gov
James Walker
Senior Economist
Tel: (202) 712-4043
Email:jwalker@usaid.gov
William Butterfield
Economist
Tel: (202) 712-1489
Email: wbutterfield@usaid.gov
Overview
The high
rates of poverty, unemployment and underemployment that affect parts of Asia are
largely the result of slow economic growth. Slow growth, in turn, is caused by
poor economic institutions, limited access to technology and low rates of investment.
USAID implements economic growth programs in Asia to help overcome these
problems and improve livelihoods. Economic growth is also a key U.S. foreign
policy goal in the region because it helps promote political stability and increased
trade.
Programs
Building Strong Economic Policies and Institutions
Inefficient policies, weak institutions and corruption
hamper growth in the region. USAID works with governments to improve business
law; reform banks, ministries and other institutions; and strengthen fiscal and
monetary policies. Recognizing that economic growth requires effective public sector
organizations, USAID launched a regional activity to identify, analyze and
diagnose factors that negatively impact service delivery by national-level
ministries and institutions.
Investing in Trade, Technology and Agriculture
Increased trade and information and communication technology
(ICT) benefit both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. USAID
supports trade agreements as well as laws that help companies become more
competitive internationally. In Nepal, USAID has improved agricultural
productivity by introducing new technologies and improving management practices.
In Pakistan, USAID
offers technical assistance to small- and medium-sized enterprises, helping
them to become more competitive, to export and to create better jobs.
Increasing Access to Credit
Access
to credit is minimal in most of the region, making it difficult to start and
expand businesses. Many USAID programs focus on the banking and legal systems
to help make credit more readily available to private businesses. This is
especially important for micro, small and medium businesses, which create jobs
and income for the poor. In
the Philippines, USAID has helped over 100 banks and rural cooperatives
profitably provide loans and deposit services for small-scale entrepreneurs in
Mindanao. In Indonesia, USAID helped the Ministry of Finance (MOF) improve the overall
functioning of the financial sector by promoting sound policies and training key
staff in MOF offices.
Strengthening Property Rights
Secure property rights are an important prerequisite for economic
growth. In Afghanistan, where property registration has suffered from neglect
and destruction of property titles, USAID has helped create electronic filing
systems and train staff. This gives people verifiable documents and reduces
fraud. In East Timor, where four major governmental transitions have occurred
in the last 50 years, USAID has helped draft laws to resolve conflicts and clarify
land and property rights.
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