Public and private investors want timely, accurate financial information about institutions before investing. This requires adherence to internationally accepted financial disclosure standards. However, implementing these standards is a particular challenge for economies in transition from the Soviet-era central planning approach toward a market economy. The Asian Development Bank provided a technical assistance grant (TA 6505- REG) to build capacity to enhance financial disclosure standards in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The book is a compendium of the project's findings, activities, results, and recommendations. It discusses the rationale for the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and the enforcement of International Standards on Auditing by legal entities, and explores their use by small and medium-sized enterprises in the three countries. The book is a valuable guide to accountants, auditors, financial institutions, regulators, investors, governments, researchers, and others interested in financial disclosure practices and progress of these transitional nations.

The 2010 Annual Report of the Board of Directors to the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reviews ADB's operations, projects, internal administration, financial management and includes a separate report on the activities of the Special Funds of ADB. The report also contains chapters on regional, sectoral and thematic highlights. It also includes the complete financial statements and opinions of the independent auditors, a statistical annex, and appendixes.

This paper discusses the impact of the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the financial sector. It highlights the benefits these technologies bring in terms of financial deepening and efficiency, while raising concerns about its potential in widening the digital divide between advanced and developing economies. The paper advances the discussion on the impact of this technology by distilling and categorizing the unique risks that it could pose to the integrity and stability of the financial system, policy challenges, and potential regulatory approaches. The evolving nature of this technology and its application in finance means that the full extent of its strengths and weaknesses is yet to be fully understood. Given the risk of unexpected pitfalls, countries will need to strengthen prudential oversight.

The Development Effectiveness Review is the annual corporate performance report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It assesses progress in implementing ADB's long-term strategic framework 2008-2020 (Strategy 2020) using the performance indicators, baselines, and targets in the ADB results framework. It analyzes performance trends, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and defines corrective actions needed.

Financial disclosure systems are a vital component of transparency. By now 161 countries around the world have introduced financial disclosure systems, becoming commonplace around the world. But, although the rules are on the books, many practitioners are still struggling with the intricacies of the rules and how to implement them in the socioeconomic, historical, and legal context of their own country. Little guidance is available to assist them. This book aims to fill that void and provide practitioners with practical scenarios to consider before deciding on a particular course of action. This book contains short chapters that elaborate each topic and provide clear guidance on the issues that policy makers and those involved in the implementation of financial disclosure obligations will need to take into account before making a decision. How do you decide who should file? And how often? On-line or in hard copy? And what exactly? Everything they own directly—or also those apartments they own indirectly? How should information in declarations be checked? Should it be shared with public? How accessible should it be? This is the sort of practical guidance that this book aims to provide.

This edition of the OECD Sovereign Borrowing Outlook reviews developments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for government borrowing needs, funding conditions and funding strategies in the OECD area.