Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Arsenio M. Balisacan met with officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) last May 27, to explore broader cooperation in priority areas identified under the country’s development program.

Secretary Balisacan discussed the country’s development strategy to generate remunerative employment and to reduce poverty. He highlighted the need to further develop industries especially the manufacturing sector and to boost new drivers of growth such as tourism and agribusiness.

The NEDA head underscored the importance of infrastructures that would improve logistics, link small farmers to the supply chain, and connect communities to clean water, among others. He also mentioned the necessity to build capacity and improve the country’s statistical systems, which ADB could support through knowledge sharing.

Also present at the meeting were and Social Work and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman and NEDA officials including Deputy Directors-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra and Rolando G. Tungpalan.

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