Since 1988 the HelpAge Asia-Pacific network has organised regular conferences bringing together a wide range of stakeholders with a common agenda of working towards improving the well-being of older populations in the Asia-Pacific region. The purpose of these conferences has been to increase understanding, share experience and build common approaches to one of the most important trends of our time, demographic transition in the region. 

 

Bringing together 250 representatives from government agencies, UN agencies and development banks, members of civil society and the private sector, this year’s conference aims to raise awareness of the economic adaptations needed to respond to rapid population ageing in low and middle income countries of Asia-Pacific.

 

The topic of the 2016 HelpAge Asia-Pacific conference is The Economic Implications of Ageing, that is, how the demographic transition will impact the region’s economies, considering macroeconomic performance, equitably shared growth and fiscal sustainability. Also considered will be the adaptations that governments, civil society and the private sector need to anticipate in areas such as health and care, labour market, pensions, savings and consumption.

 

Expected outcomes

• Shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities for economic growth, equity and fiscal sustainability arising from the demographic transition in Asia-Pacific

• Greater appreciation by governments of the critical adaptations needed in public policies, structures and services to respond to population ageing

• Fresh perspectives within civil society and international actors on how to shape policy advocacy and programmes to support societal adaptation

• Wider and deeper networking among a range of organisations interested in ageing in the Asia-Pacific region.