IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

12/06/2026

We are deeply saddened to share that Mr. Kunio Saito, the first Director of the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP), passed away on May 18, 2026, at the age of 85.

Mr. Saito led the establishment of OAP in 1997 and served as its inaugural Director, laying the foundation for the office’s work and engagement in the region.

We remember with gratitude his lasting contributions and extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.

11/06/2026

10/06/2026

【APPLY NOW! Macroeconomist Training Program】

Are you a graduate student studying or related fields in Japan? Would you like to experience the work of an economist?
Sign up for the three-day residential workshop in Tokyo starting on July 29, 2026. This workshop provides an opportunity to learn about the IMF’s macroeconomic analysis framework and conduct economic assessments of member countries, while building networks with participants from diverse backgrounds through group work. All lectures will be led by a former IMF economist who held a number of senior positions.

Feedback from Ms. Haruka Sakio (from Japan, on the far right in the photo), who participated in the previous program:
“It was very meaningful for me to analyze how the IMF develops policies from multiple perspectives such as financial, fiscal, and external sectors, not only through lectures but also by using real cases like Vietnam. I was also able to gain a systematic understanding of how these sectors interact with each other. In addition, through case studies, I clarified my understanding of how to interpret data such as assets and liabilities in government fiscal statistics, which had been unclear to me before. I would like to apply what I learned in this program to my future economic analysis in a practical way.”

The application deadline is 11:59 PM, Wednesday, July 1.
Find the online application form here:https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2026/27th-mtp-flyer-agenda.pdf
For more information, visit https://www.imf.org/en/countries/resrep/oap-home/macroeconomist-training-program

04/06/2026

Governments are expanding industrial policy in response to crises. But whether it delivers sustained gains, and at what cost, depends on design, governance, and global coordination. Read our latest blog for more: https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/05/28/industrial-policy-is-adapting-to-crises-but-remains-hard-to-implement-effectively

01/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined our recent seminar on how global financial markets are responding to the war in the Middle East.

Drawing on the ’s Global Financial Stability Report and led by Sally Chen, Resident Representative for Hong Kong SAR, the discussion highlighted how renewed inflation pressures and tighter financial conditions have elicited strong initial market reactions.

The tone-setting presentation touched on four salient financial stability risks:
1. Bond market fragilities
2. Emerging markets under pressure
3. High and concentrated asset valuations
4. Amplification channels through financial vulnerabilities

We appreciate the strong participation in the discussion and Q&A, and look forward to seeing you at one of our events in the near future!

28/05/2026

We thank Asian Development Bank Institute, Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, and ERIA: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia for co‑organizing this timely roundtable and for the opportunity to share the Fund’s views on maintaining macroeconomic stability amid today’s growing uncertainty.

🌏 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲?

🤝🏻 Experts at an ADBI, AMRO, and ERIA roundtable in Tokyo highlighted risks from geopolitics, tariffs, and deglobalization, and called for coordinated policies and stronger regional cooperation.

25/05/2026

[Deadline extended - come work with us!]
We are recruiting two locally based roles to support our work on economic and financial issues in the Asia Pacific region.

1. Economist
The role involves contributing to regional research and analytical work as part of the IMF’s surveillance of the region, staying abreast of macroeconomic and financial developments, and supporting other operational work at OAP.
To apply: https://imf.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/IMF/job/Tokyo/Economist--Local----Regional-Office-for-Asia-and-the-Pacific--OAP--in-Tokyo---APD_26-R9163?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demo0jfxruo9&fbclid=IwY2xjawRhLA1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFidUxDQkdqbjVuRjBJdkkyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpRtY51IOHrbfIRTGcbiNyOlzUBOZ_svuIqlZfSs4UtMXHg_nXak8pMy5BwH_aem_8LK9PMd0QdcTAg4SScK0UQ

2. Research Analyst
The role focuses on collecting and analyzing economic data, participating in economic research, and supporting OAP’s monitoring, outreach, and seminar activities in Japan and other Asian countries.
To apply: https://imf.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/IMF/job/Tokyo/Research-Analyst--Local----Regional-Office-for-Asia-and-the-Pacific--OAP--in-Tokyo---APD_26-R9164?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demo0jfxruo9&fbclid=IwY2xjawRhLDhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFidUxDQkdqbjVuRjBJdkkyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuYnU_Nudcz4ANLFc2q3yhBlddpl-BsGt1XsJd-4N6tAlT88PixkKATHuNTg_aem_Ad9mLsnWFLaj5-Gt5dqrqw

Both positions are based in Tokyo, with start dates planned for September 2026 or April 2027. Applications close on June 15, 2026 23:59 p.m. (Tokyo time).

We look forward to receiving your applications.

22/05/2026

【Join us for a GFSR seminar on how global markets confront the Middle East War】

Speaker Sally Chen, ’s Resident Representative for Hong Kong SAR, will present key messages from the IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report (Chapter 1, with selected insights from Chapter 2).
Financial markets are grappling with the ongoing war in the Middle East amid renewed inflationary pressures and rising risks of a sharper tightening in financial conditions.

Our speaker will discuss key amplification channels that could turn market stress into broader financial instability from sovereign rollover risks amid high public debt to stretched equity valuations and concentration (including AI-related firms).

Please join us to take part in the event which will also feature a Q&A session.
Date: Tuesday, May 26 | 10:00–11:30 (JST)
Place: Kasumigasei Knowledge Square (3F, Kasumigaseki Common Gate West), Tokyo (Map: https://www.kk2.ne.jp/data/kk2/pdf/dl_5_1access_english.pdf)

Language: English (no translation provided)
Register (in-person only): https://cvent.me/8o1nlA

21/05/2026

【Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop on Revenue Strategy and Mobilization Successfully Concluded】

Over the past week, 23 professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region came together in Selangor, Malaysia, to explore the Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS) approach and its practical application to domestic revenue mobilization. Through a combination of expert-led sessions on tax policy and administration, and dynamic peer-to-peer exchanges, participants shared country experiences, discussed common challenges, and learned from one another.

This workshop, jointly organized by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific ( ), and the Malaysia Tax Academy of the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, reflects our continued commitment to strengthening regional collaboration and supporting countries in designing and implementing effective and fair revenue strategies.

We would like to sincerely thank all participants, partners, and colleagues who contributed to making this workshop a success.