The World Bank is projecting continued good growth for East Asian economies, but warns that bird flu could dampen the generally positive economic outlook.
The Washington-based lender released a report Thursday, forecasting 6.2% economic growth for the region this year and next. It attributes the mildly slowing growth -- down from 7.2% last year -- to a cyclical slowdown in the technology sector, higher oil prices and reduced export orders.
The World Bank did not estimate economic damage from a bird-flu pandemic, but said it could be catastrophic.
It also noted that poverty continues to fall in most parts of East Asia. This year, the bank said the number of people living on less than two dollars a day fell to about 32%of the region's population, from around 50% nine years ago.
Information for this report is provided by AFP and Reuters.
