Inaugurating the Conference, Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the Governor of the Central Bank, emphasised the importance of research for evidence-based decision making, particularly in the midst of volatile economic and financial market conditions experienced globally at present. The Governor underscored the need to reinforce confidence among stakeholders when the entire global economy is going through a period of unprecedented socio-economic turmoil. The Governor added that research events of this nature provide opportunity to examine economic issues in detail and enable informed analysis, which supports public policy making to ensure macroeconomic stability. Professor Tetsushi Sonobe, Dean and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ADBI delivered opening remarks, underscoring the need to broaden policy oriented and collaborative research.

The Conference comprised two sessions of research paper presentations by authors from the Central Bank, ADBI and APAEA. The sessions were chaired by Mr. Mahinda Siriwardana, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, and Dr. Peter J. Morgan, Senior Consulting Economist and Vice Chair of Research of ADBI.