following Asian nations: Afghanistan Bangladesh Cambodia China East Timor Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Korea Laos Malaysia Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Pacific Islands Pakistan Philippines Singapore Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand Vietnam Program areas Governance and law The Asia Foundation's largest program area – governance and law – develops and supports initiatives that build more effective and responsive governance in Asia. The foundation cooperates with a broad network of partners in government, civil society, and the private sector to improve governing institutions in order to help accelerate economic and social change, reduce corruption, manage conflict, and increase citizen participation. Its sub-programming areas include: Governance (local/municipal governance, counter corruption, central executive institutions, parliamentary development, constitutional development) Law and Justice (strengthening and reform of formal and informal law and justice mechanisms, supporting efforts to increased community safety and security, particularly through community-oriented policing, and programs aimed specifically at empowering and protecting the rights of marginalized populations) Conflict and Fragile Conditions (subnational conflict, peacebuilding, and civil military relations) Elections (free and fair elections and democratic practice, open flows of information, and political parties) Women's empowerment While women in Asia have made steady gains in recent years, gender inequality remains a significant problem. For 60 years, The Asia Foundation has supported women and girls across the Asia-Pacific region. Its Women's Empowerment Program was established in 1994 and has transformed the lives of thousands of women and girls through significant programs that focus on three key areas: expanding women's economic opportunities, increasing women's personal rights and security, and advancing women's political participation. The foundation supports an integrated and coordinated approach that integrates gender into its work in governance, economic development, regional cooperation, and the environment. Economic development The foundation's Economic Development programs support Asian initiatives to enhance economic governance to accelerate and sustain inclusive economic growth and broaden economic opportunities through design and implementation in three core program areas: 1) improving the business environment for private sector growth, 2) advancing regional economic cooperation, and 3) supporting entrepreneurship development. The foundation works with local partners to design and implement program activities focusing on promoting investment and private enterprises, inclusive and equitable growth, empowering entrepreneurs and fostering intra and inter-regional trade by removing non-tariff barriers and strengthening domestic demand. Economic Development Impacts: The Asia Foundation has developed a set of research tools, like the Economic Governance Indices (EGIs), Business Climate Barometers, and Regulatory Impact Assessments, which measure the quality