- Overview
Growth in South Asia is projected to be robust at 6.6 percent this year—but a significant slowdown looms on the horizon. Reforms to promote trade openness and technology adoption could help the region create jobs and catalyze growth, says the World Bank in its twice-a-year regional outlook.
Released on October 7, 2025, the latest South Asia Development Update, Jobs, AI, and Trade, projects growth in the region to slow to 5.8 percent in 2026, a downward revision of 0.6 percentage points from the April forecast. Downside risks include spillovers from the global economic slowdown and uncertainty around trade policy, socio-political unrest in the region, and labor market disruptions posed by emerging technology such as artificial intelligence (AI).
During the visit to Japan by Franziska Ohnsorge, World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia Region, a seminar was held introduce the report’s key points.
Speaker:
Franziska Ohnsorge
Chief Economist for South Asia Region, World Bank
Presentation Material :
Jobs, AI, and Trade (PDF)
Event Details
Date/Time:
2pm-3pm, Monday, February 9, 2026 (Japan Standard Time)
Format:
Hybrid (In-person participation or online participation by Webex)
VENUE for in-person participants:
World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)
Fukoku Seimei Building 14th floor, 2-2-2 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
ACCESS
Language:
English (without interpretation into Japanese)
Contact
Koichi Omori, World Bank Tokyo Office
komori@worldbankgroup.org