World News - "The backward infrastructure that suffered enormous pressure from Asia's rapid economic growth in recent years will continue to be a bottleneck for the region, said a book released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ADB Institution on Monday at the 42nd ADB annual meeting in Bali.

The book, titled Infrastructure for a Seamless Asia, presents the major issues and challenges in developing regional infrastructure in Asia through fostering regional cooperation, as well as provides a practical framework for pan-Asian infrastructure cooperation.

It noted that Asia's trade competitiveness depends to a large extent on efficient, fast, reliable and seamless infrastructure connections, but many parts of Asia are isolated economically as well as geographically. ..." [Xinhua/Factiva]

Kyodo News notes that "...if the required investment toward pan-Asian connectivity is made in the region's transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure during 2010-2020, developing Asia's real income in 2020 may increase by $1.6 trillion or equivalent to 10 percent of gross domestic product. ...The study stresses, however, that efforts to make transport and energy investments more environmentally aware and, in particular, to mitigate their impacts on climate change, are critical. ...

The study also proposes the establishment of a Pan-Asian Infrastructure Forum to coordinate the building of environment-friendly transport, power and communication networks stretching right across the diverse Asia region, as well as an Asian Infrastructure Fund to finance the vision. ..." [Kyodo News (Japan)/Factiva]