Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad participated in a high-level panel at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Governors Seminar on Cross-Border Collaboration for Future Resilience, held during the ADB Annual Meetings in Milan.

During the seminar, DPM Prasad underscored the potential economic risks that global tariff conflicts and geopolitical tensions pose to small island developing states (SIDS), particularly in the Pacific. He emphasised the need for tailored approaches to trade and international relations that support vulnerable economies in navigating uncertainty and building long-term resilience.

He further advocated for deeper regional integration across the Pacific, proposing initiatives such as visa-free travel and policy harmonisation to drive economic growth and collaboration on regional development projects.

“Collaboration across borders in the Pacific is essential,” Prasad noted. “Stronger integration can help us address shared challenges while promoting sustainable growth.”

The panel also featured global economic leaders including India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Finland’s Under Secretary of State Pasi Hellman, ADB President Masato Kanda, and Italy’s Treasury Director Francesca Utili.

The seminar aimed to explore regional responses to global challenges and strengthen collective economic resilience among ADB member countries.