IsDB’s projects in Asia supports seven percent of the world population which makes it second biggest IsDB operational region. The regional population growth rate is about 1.1 percent in 2018. The MCs in Asia are Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Given the region’s stark contrast in its income level, the Region has unique and diverse development needs. The Bank supports higher and more inclusive growth in the region which includes building infrastructure that will help to boost productivity, addressing the risk of climate change and environmental degradation, and promoting the development of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

In the medium to long-term, Central Asian countries in this region require cross-border infrastructure in order to support trade with landlocked MCs. The Bank also engages with MCs to assess their need to foster inclusive growth and create jobs for their young people. Other challenges include moving their economies away from natural resources and strengthening regional cooperation by lowering regional trade barriers and bolstering productivity.