MCDF Highlights Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing’s Role in Advancing High-Quality Connectivity Infrastructure at Bangkok Conference

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) participated in the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Global Advisory’s inaugural conference held on 9-10 December in Bangkok, highlighting the role of knowledge sharing in advancing cross-border connectivity infrastructure that supports sustainable growth.

MCDF’s Senior Advisor to the CEO, Mr. Ayumi Konishi, joined policymakers, thought leaders, and industry experts at the conference. Under the theme “ideas across borders: how economies grow through learning,” they discussed how international cooperation can help low- and middle-income countries leverage learning to realize more productive economies.

Against the backdrop of global uncertainty, Mr. Konishi and other participants considered ways countries learn from each other and within as well as opportunities for them to build greater institutional capacity to adapt, innovate, and move forward.

Mr. Konishi participated in the first panel moderated by Ms. Roli Ashana, CEO, PURVASA Strategy, Risk, and Impact, which discussed the role of “learning” and “teaching” in Asia’s economic development. Other panelists included Ms. Mayumi Endoh, Senior Deputy Director General at the Japan International Cooperation Agency; Mr. Haroon Sharif, former Minister for Investment, Pakistan;  Mr. Ashok Lavasa, former Finance Secretary of India and former Vice President for Private Sector Development at the Asian Development Bank; and Dr. Jing Gu, Director, China Center at the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University and Chair Professor for International Development, China Agricultural University.

Drawing on his experience in higher education development in countries such as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, Mr. Konishi emphasized the importance of adapting external knowledge to local contexts. He went on to introduce MCDF’s knowledge-sharing activities for promoting sustainable, high-quality connectivity infrastructure investment in developing countries through partnerships.

“MCDF’s information-sharing events and reports and capacity building programs seek to help developing countries internalize lessons on applying International Financial Institution standards and good practices while aligning them with their own experiences,” explained Mr. Konishi.

“Shifting international cooperation from “donor-receiver” relationships to “co-learning partnerships” is critical to unlocking the financing and delivery of infrastructure needed to enhance cross-border trade and growth and is a key building block of MCDF collaboration,” he said.