The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its partners will collectively zero in on strategies and policy responses that countries can adopt to lay the groundwork for post-COVID-19 recovery at the upcoming Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS) Innovation through Collaboration: Planning for Inclusive Post-COVID-19 Recovery. This year’s SEADS, to be held virtually on 17-18 March 2021, will explore the following: 

• How Southeast Asian nations can most effectively revitalize businesses, create sustainable job opportunities, and position themselves for inclusive and robust recovery in the wake of COVID-19; 

• How Southeast Asian nations can harness “Big Data” and new technology to support growth; and  

• How Southeast Asian nations can better ensure widespread vaccine access.  

SEADS provides a forum for leaders from governments, the private sector, academia, and development organizations to discuss innovative approaches and solutions to development challenges, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.   

Keynote speakers for #SEADS2021 will include Masatsugu Asakawa, President, ADB; Carlos G. Dominguez, Secretary, Department of Finance, Philippines; Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health, Indonesia; Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary General, Executive Secretary, UNESCAP; Jacquelline Fuller, President, Google.org; Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General, International Vaccine Institute; Dr. Richard J. Hatchett, CEO, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations; Melati Wijsen, Founder, Bye Bye Plastic Bags; and Ayesha Khanna, Co-Founder and CEO, ADDO AI. 

Featured panelist include Indranee Thurai Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and for National Development, Singapore; Ahmed M. Saeed, Vice-President, ADB; Audrey Choi, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer, Morgan Stanley; Ming Maa, Group President, Grab; Suresh Jadhav, Executive Director, Serum Institute of India; Anil Argilla, Head Emerging Markets Asia, Pfizer; Dr. Ruth Karron, Professor, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Director of the Center for Immunization Research; Sherry Madera, Chief Industry and Government Affairs Officer, London Stock Exchange; and Magnus Ekbom, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder, Lazada. More big names still to come! 

Registration is free. For more details about #SEADS2021, please visit: https://seads.adb.org/symposium.