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The Bangladesh National Board of Revenue (NBR) hosted the 11th SASEC Customs Subgroup (SCS) meeting on 28–29 August 2023 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which brought together senior customs officials of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) countries.

Mr. Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem, chair, Bangladesh NBR, in his inaugural speech noted the importance of increasing national competitiveness and economic opportunities through the reduction of international trade costs. He acknowledged the Asian Development Bank's (ADB's) support for the implementation of trade measures in SASEC countries.

Mr. Thiam Hee Ng, Director, Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division, South Asia Department, ADB, explained in the opening remarks that future SASEC projects will be shaped by the meeting's outcomes.

Ms. Kanya S. Sasradipoera, Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist, South Asia Department, ADB, moderated the meeting while Mr. Md. Mahbubuzzaman, member of the Customs Audit, Modernization and International Trade, Bangladesh NBR, chaired the meeting.

The meeting discussed:

• new SASEC institutional mechanisms and initiatives and the role of SCS;
• the progress of the key subregional projects and updates on national projects;
• subregional capacity-building activities in priority areas; and
• possible initiatives under the trade facilitation framework.

Mr. Jiangbo Ning, BRM deputy country director, closed the meeting and invited the participants to attend the succeeding learning event on "National Single Window and ASYCUDA – Options and Country Experiences." The meeting was attended by around 30 government officials from the SASEC countries.