Yasuto Watanabe
Director of ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office
Yasuto Watanabe is Director of the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). Prior to this, he served as Senior Deputy Vice Minister of Finance at Japan Ministry of Finance, with a focus on Asia-Pacific regional issues.
Jul 30, 2025
In times of geopolitical uncertainty, regional unity is the surest path forward. In July, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) released its updated outlook for the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, plus China, Japan, and South Korea. AMRO revised down its growth forecasts for 2025 and 2026 to 3.8% and 3.6%, respectively, and highlighted the urgent need for greater regional integration.