 October 2019The BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC) discussed rationalizing the organization’s areas of cooperation and the draft memorandum of understanding to be signed with the Asian Development Bank at the BPWC meeting in Colombo. Mr. Ravinatha Aryasinha, Foreign Secretary of the Government of Sri Lanka, emphasized that for Sri Lanka, early finalization of the BIMSTEC Charter and rationalization of the sectors are crucial to re-energize the organization. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, ADB, Sri Lanka, ASEAN, Regional Cooperation, Trade |
 September 2019Ten economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Government of India held their 16th consultation. The meeting acknowledged the ratification of the ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement and endorsed the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. Read More Tags: India, ASEAN |
 August 2018Mr. Chandra Mohan Patowary, Industries and Commerce Minister of Assam, India, emphasized the State Government's commitment to reopening air cargo trade routes to increase the state's economic prosperity. The Assam government plans to link its largest city, Guwahati, to the seven capital cities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) under the Regional Connectivity Scheme. He also shared that the Assam Industrial Development Cargo is working on an air cargo terminal project Read More Tags: India, ASEAN, Trade, Connectivity, Myanmar, Thailand |
 February 2018Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called for the strengthening of business and economic ties among ASEAN and South Asian countries. He noted the strong historic and cultural ties among the countries and urged Southeast Asian countries to take advantage of investment opportunities in Assam in northeast India. Read More Tags: ASEAN, Act East Policy, South Asia |
 December 2017Myanmar Customs Department met with import and export companies, freight forwarders, and government departments to raise public awareness for its Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, initiated in line with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Trade in Goods Agreement, the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement, and World Customs Organization international standards. Read More Tags: ASEAN, Customs, Myanmar, Trade Facilitation Agreement, WCO, WTO, Authorized Economic Operators |
 December 2017India has proposed a $1 billion line of credit (LOC) to strengthen sea, air, and road connectivity with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India. India and Myanmar are working together to upgrade infrastructure in the border areas, including the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway, and the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project. Read More Tags: India, ASEAN, IMT-MVA, Myanmar, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Transport |
 November 2017In his keynote address at the ADB Regional Cooperation and Integration Week, ADB President Takehiko Nakao stated that regional cooperation is critical to securing Asia’s economic future. He noted ADB’s continued commitment to support regional cooperation as a means to reduce inequality and overcome infrastructure gaps, and cited specific SASEC projects as effective examples. The ADB Regional Cooperation and Integration Week was held on 27-29 November 2017, in Manila, Philippines. Read More Tags: ADB, ASEAN, Economic Corridor Development, Energy, Myanmar, Regional Cooperation, SASEC, Transport, World Bank, WTO |
 November 2017Implementing paperless trade measures in Asia and the Pacific would reduce trade costs, raise competitiveness, and enable countries in the region to benefit from the digital economy, according to the Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation - Global Report 2017. Read More Tags: ADB, ASEAN, Customs, Trade Facilitation Agreement, UNCTAD, UNESCAP, WTO |
 September 2017A roundtable discussion held in Myanmar noted the need to substantially increase connectivity, trade and diplomatic relations between Myanmar and India. Officials from the two countries participated in the India-Myanmar Dialogue: Act East Policy and India-Myanmar Relations, held on 2 September 2017 in Yangon, Myanmar. The forum was organized by Parami Roundtable and Mizzima Media Group. Read More Tags: ASEAN, BIMSTEC, Connectivity, India, Myanmar, Trade |
 August 2017Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said trade in India’s northeastern region has increased to $22.6 million. He was speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Dialogue Partnership, held in Ventiane, Lao PDR. He reiterated India’s commitment to deepen ties with ASEAN countries. Read More Tags: India, ASEAN |
 August 2017Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, India, urged India and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to bolster efforts to increase bilateral trade and investment, and improve road and sea transport links. She urged a review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement to facilitate elimination of technical barriers to trade, and promoted transformation of the India-Southeast Asia transport corridors into economic corridors. Read More Tags: India, ASEAN, Bilateral Agreement, Investments, Roads, Transport |
 May 2017Economic transformations have accelerated regional cooperation and integration in Asia. In this ADB blog post, Mr. Cuong Minh Nguyen, Principal Regional Integration Specialist, Southeast Asia Department, ADB, discusses six paradigm shifts that are reshaping economic prospects in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and other parts of the region. It also highlights the need for governments to work together to build a socially inclusive, environmentally friendly, and economically sustainable region. Read More Tags: ASEAN, SAARC, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Energy, Regional Cooperation |
 April 2017The BIMSTEC region hosts 21% of the world’s population and holds great potential for trade. Experts at the Conference on Facilitating Connectivity in Bay of Bengal Region held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, stressed the importance of regional connectivity for BIMSTEC to succeed and to facilitate economic growth among BIMSTEC member countries. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, ASEAN, SAARC, Regional Cooperation, Cooperation, Bangladesh |
 January 2017Limited cooperation and economic integration in South Asia continue to hinder its growth potential, despite being one of the fastest-growing regions in the world. In this commentary, Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member (Senior Secretary), General Economics Division, Planning Commission, Government of Bangladesh, argues for the need to think of pragmatic approaches and re-imagine regional cooperation in South Asia. Read More Tags: ASEAN, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Connectivity, India, European Union, Infrastructure |
 September 2016The India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway is set to be completed by 2019-2020. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assigned the India Ministry of External Affairs to monitor and oversee its completion. Read More Tags: IMT-MVA, Transport, India, ASEAN, |
 August 2016The National Trade Portal and National Single Window are important components of the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA). This commentary by Ms. Ferdous Ara Begum, Chief Executive Officer, Business Initiative Leading Development of Bangladesh, discusses how these could improve trade, gives an update on Bangladesh's initiatives toward ratifying the WTO TFA, and recommends a region-wide Single Window for South Asia. Read More Tags: WTO, Trade Facilitation Agreement, ASEAN, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade Facilitation |
 August 2016The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) India Business Council (AIBC) called for opening of trade between India's northeastern states and the ASEAN region, in a meeting with India Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. AIBC also sought to finalize the ASEAN-India Transit Transport Agreement before completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway. Read More Tags: India, Trade, Transport, ASEAN |
 August 2016Bangladesh is seeking to become a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to deepen Bangladesh-ASEAN economic, political, and cultural connectivity. Formalization of ties will promote trade flow, investment, and cultural exchanges between South and Southeast Asia, emphasized Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, ASEAN, Trade |
 December 2015South Asia is set to play a strategic role in Asian integration. This commentary by Mr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Advisor in the Asian Development Bank’s Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, shares how linking emerging South Asia with the more developed member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations will transform regional economies through development of regional connectivity, and create a huge regional market of 2-3 billion people. Read More Tags: South Asia, Economic corridor, Development, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Tourism, manufacturing, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal |
