DEVELOPING ASIAN COUNTRIES NEED TO FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES SECTORS

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) -- Developing Asian countries need to focus
on their infrastructure and services sectors over the next couple of years to
support growth going forward, says an economist.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) principal economist Dr William E. James said
the countries should go into the highly-productive infrastructure investment in
order to bring growth back to the economy.

"One way to regain economy growth is to go into the highly-productive
infrastucture investment such as the transportation and port sectors and
improving public facilities such as schools," he said at the 14th Asia Oil and
Gas Conference 2009 here Monday.

On the services sector, James said developing Asian countries should
encourage cross-border investment in it.

He said the sector is the most important for countries in future.
"To stimulate the services sector, developing Asian countries need to
encourage cross-border investment," he said.

According to James, the Asian region's economic growth would rebound in
2010, in line with recovery in the global economy.

He said the region would record growth of 3.4 percent this year and six
percent in 2010.
-- BERNAMA