MANILA • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised its growth forecast for this year for developing Asia on the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines and the strength of global export demand, but warned that resurgent virus outbreaks threaten the recovery.

China and India are expected to lead the rebound across the vast region stretching from the Cook Islands in the Pacific to Kazakhstan in Central Asia, the bank said yesterday.

The Philippine-based ADB predicted growth of 7.3 per cent - compared with its previous forecast in December of 6.8 per cent and a contraction of 0.2 per cent last year - but said the recovery would be "patchy".

"Some economies continue to struggle to contain the virus and its new variants," the ADB said in its flagship Asian Development Outlook.

"Tourist-dependent economies in the Pacific and elsewhere face a slow road back. Conversely, a handful of economies in the region that have contained domestic outbreaks and are benefiting from the recovery in global demand will continue to show resilience and expand."

The ADB warned that delayed vaccine roll-outs could prolong economic disruptions in the region where "progress varies considerably" in getting jabs into arms.

By the end of last month, developing Asia had administered 5.2 doses per 100 people, led by China, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh, the ADB said.

That trailed the global average of about eight doses per 100, it said.

The ADB's upbeat outlook for India - 11 per cent growth after shrinking 8 per cent last year - could be revised as the country battles a huge surge in coronavirus infections, chief economist Yasuyuki Sawada told reporters.

But Mr Sawada said the forecast was still "achievable and realistic at this stage" given the low base of comparison, use of more targeted containment measures and speed of the country's vaccination drive.

China - which expanded at its fastest pace on record in the first quarter - is expected to grow 8.1 per cent on the back of global demand for its products and pent-up domestic consumer spending.

It grew 2.3 per cent last year.

But the outlook for some countries is bleak.

Myanmar is likely to contract 9.8 per cent this year, the ADB said, as turmoil triggered by the military's ousting of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February disrupts an economy already hit hard by Covid-19. Given the political uncertainty in the South-east Asian country, the ADB said it would not issue a forecast for next year.

Economic pain triggered by the pandemic will deepen in some Pacific island countries as international tourism remains blocked by border closures. The Cook Islands is expected to contract a whopping 26 per cent this year, while Samoa is forecast to shrink by 9.2 per cent.

The Philippines - which shrivelled by 9.6 per cent last year, making it the worst performer in South-east Asia - is expected to grow 4.5 per cent this year.

But the ADB said the recovery would be "fragile" due to uncertainty over the virus and vaccine supply.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE