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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the SASEC Program, held a Consultation Workshop on Maritime Cooperation in SASEC on 7 February 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. The study explored maritime cooperation for SASEC member countries.

The workshop

• Reviewed and discussed the current maritime environment in the SASEC subregion;
• Identified issues affecting the efficient development of the maritime sector in the SASEC subregion;
• Discussed measures to address these issues, including (i) deployment of ICT tools to facilitate port logistics and interface between customs administrations and ports, and (ii) development of necessary infrastructure to improve logistics and hinterland connectivity; and
• Agreed on priority cooperation initiatives in the maritime sector for the subregion.

Participants included senior officials from shipping ministries, port authorities, and customs from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. The meeting was financed through ADB technical assistance.

Cooperation in the maritime sector was proposed at the Meeting of the SASEC Nodal Officials' and Working Groups in Singapore in March 2018.