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The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Trade Facilitation Working Group (SASEC TFWG) meeting was held on 2-3 December 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The meeting focused on enhancing regional cooperation through various trade facilitation initiatives. The meeting presented knowledge works related to the highly facilitated trade corridor, comprehensive trade gateway ecosystem development, and ecosystem development for food trade, food safety and food security. The meeting also featured updates from the 13th SASEC Customs Subgroup and discussions on the SASEC Strategy 2035 for Trade Facilitation Operational Priority. The meeting reviewed and endorsed the Action Plan for SASEC Initiatives (APSI) 2025-2027, with plans for updating it for 2026-2028.

Mr. Bhimarjun Adhikari, joint secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Government of Nepal, and Mr. Bipin Acharya, joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Government of Nepal, chaired the sessions, while Mr. Thiam Hee Ng, head of the Regional Cooperation and Integration Unit at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), served as cochair. The meeting was moderated by the SASEC secretariat.

The meeting was attended by officials from customs and land port ministries, finance ministries, external and foreign affairs ministries, and food regulation agencies from SASEC countries. Staff and consultants from ADB also took part in the meeting. SASEC countries comprise Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

For participants, please go to the link below for meeting materials and other information.

• SASEC Trade Facilitation Working Group (TFWG) Meeting 2025