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ndonesian economist Iwan Jaya Aziz has been appointed to head the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Philippines-based Office of Regional Economic Integration (OREI).

Iwan, currently the director of graduate studies in Regional Science at Cornell University in New York state, will oversee “ADB efforts to help member countries pursue closer regional ties, which can serve as a stepping stone to a more globally connected Asia”, the bank said in a statement released Thursday.

Iwan replaces current OREI head Jong-Wha Lee from South Korea. Iwan’s appointment will be effective upon assumption to office some time this year.

The ADB said OREI was its focal point for Pan-Asian integration — a paradigm that Asian nations should unite to create a strong region to compete with Western countries.

OREI works with regional forums and programs including ASEAN, ASEAN+3 (ASEAN states and Japan, China and South Korea), the East Asia Summit, Asia-Europe Meeting, APEC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation.

It also supports regional activities including the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization currency swap contract, the Asian Bond Markets Initiative and the World Trade Organization’s aid-for-trade initiative, while at the same time promoting Pan-Asian infrastructure development, conducting research on Asian economic integration and providing training on regional economic surveillance, financial regulation and supervision, and free trade agreements.

Arianto A. Patunru, the director of the University of Indonesia’s Institute for Economic and Social Research, said Iwan could enhance Asia as a stronger region at the global level.

“Asia will play a big role in the future. It is consistent with the aim of the International Monetary Fund,” he said.

In this week’s high-level economic meeting in Daejeon, South Korea, the IMF agreed to strengthen the role of Asian nations in the institution.

Arianto said Iwan would be able to bring Asia’s voice to the institution considering his close links with North America.

“Asia currently has the most dynamic integration in the world. There should be synchronization between Asian countries to make the integration smooth,” he said, citing Iwan’s capacity as an expert on regional economy and an academic.

Iwan obtained his PhD and masters degree in regional science and economics from Cornell University after graduating from the University of Indonesia’s School of Economics.