News List

Compiled features on recent developments in regional cooperation and integration in the SASEC region.

Year:
February 2024

India Prime Minister Lays Foundation Stone for SASEC Corridor Projects

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for multiple road projects in Guwahati, Assam. The projects include the upgrading of 43 roads under the SASEC Corridor Connectivity Project. Among the projects are the upgrading of the Dolabari to Jamuguri road and the Biswanath Chariali to Gohpur road, both of which will be upgraded to 4 lanes to help push economic development in the region.

Read More

Tags: India, Road, Economic corridor, SASEC, Southeast Asia

October 2023

ADB, Government of West Bengal, India, to Undertake Economic Corridor Study

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of West Bengal, India, are undertaking a study for the development of economic corridors across the nodes of Andal-Panagarh, Kharagapur-Goaltore-Salboni and growth centers including Siliguri, Dankuni, and Kalyani with urban-industrial logistics-skills-energy-social sector convergence.

Read More

Tags: India, Economic corridor, ADB

August 2023

Bangladesh Economic Corridors Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Development

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) study on Bangladesh Economic Corridor Development assesses the economic potential of the northeast and southwest Bangladesh regions to propose the holistic development of the country to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

Read More

Tags: Economic corridor, ADB, Bangladesh

April 2023

New Industrial Hub in the Bay of Bengal Region Proposed by Japan

Japan has proposed the development of a new industrial hub for the Bay of Bengal region. The hub, planned to be built in Bangladesh, will be equipped with supply chains that are connected to India's northeastern region. It will also be linked to Bhutan and Nepal through a planned port and transportation infrastructure.

Read More

Tags: Bangladesh, Economic corridor, Japan

March 2023

ADB Submits Feasibility Study on the the North East Economic Corridor

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) submitted a feasibility study on the North East Economic Corridor. Features of the report include emphasis on development of transport, urban, and energy infrastructures, as enablers for equitable economic development for India's northeastern region.

Read More

Tags: ADB, India, Economic corridor

July 2022

Andhra Pradesh Industrial Corridors to Attract Rs 1 Lakh Crore Investment

The three industrial corridors of Andhra Pradesh, the Chennai - Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC), Visakhapatnam - Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) and Hyderabad - Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC), to be implemented with financial assistance from ADB and the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust of India, is set to attract more than Rs 1 lakh crore (around $12.56 billion) investments and generate employment for 5.5 lakh (550,000) people by 2040.

Read More

Tags: Economic corridor, Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor

January 2022

Planned Economic Corridor in India’s Northeastern Region Gets Government's Full Support

Mr. G Kishan Reddy, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Development of North Eastern Region of the Government of India, lauded the Asian Development Bank for the excellent study carried out on the planned economic corridor in India’s northeastern region. He stated that the ministry will support the implementation of the ambitious projects for the economic corridor.

Read More

Tags: India, Economic corridor

December 2021

ADB, India Sign Loan Agreement for the Industrial Corridor Development Program (Subprogram 1)

ADB and the Government of India signed a loan agreement for the Industrial Corridor Development Program (Subprogram 1). Under the Program, ADB will lend $250 million (about Rs 1,872 crore) support to India. Mr. Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, signed on behalf of the Government of India, and Mr. Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB India Resident Mission, signed on behalf of ADB.

Read More

Tags: ADB, India, Economic corridor, Investments, manufacturing, Logistics

October 2021

ADB Boosts Industrial Corridor Development in India

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the Industrial Corridor Development Program (Subprogram 1) loan support for India worth $250 million with a $1 million “Knowledge Services for Industrial Corridor Development Program” technical assistance support.

Read More

Tags: ADB, India, Economic corridor

June 2021

ADB, Government of India Sign $484 Million Loan to Upgrade Road Network in Tamil Nadu Industrial Corridor

The Asian Development Bank and the Government of India signed the Tamil Nadu Industrial Connectivity Project on 16 June 2021. Under the agreement, ADB will finance a $484 million loan to improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor.

Read More

Tags: ADB, Economic corridor, India, Transport

September 2020

Odisha Economic Corridor Included in the National Industrial Corridor Development Program

The National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust has approved the inclusion of the Odisha Economic Corridor under the National Industrial Corridor Development Program. It will become part of the East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), India’s first coastal economic corridor.

Read More

Tags: Economic corridor, East Coast Economic Corridor, India

February 2017

Commentary: An Emergent Urgency for Bangladesh

Good connectivity reduces the cost of doing business and increases the competitive strengths of trading partners. In this commentary, Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue, highlights how a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement and an effective Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement would promote South Asian integration and step up Asia-wide cooperation.

Read More

Tags: BBIN, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Transport, Economic corridor

February 2017

ADB, India Ink $375 Million Loan/Grant Agreement to Develop the Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor

The Asian Development Bank and the Government of India have signed a $375 million agreement to develop the 800-kilometer Visakhapatnam (Vizag)-Chennai Industrial Corridor. The agreement includes the first tranche of $245 million, which will develop high-quality infrastructure in Visakhapatnam and Yerpedu-Srikalahasti, a $125 million policy-based loan, and a $5 million grant to build climate change resilient infrastructure.

Read More

Tags: ADB, Economic corridor, India, Act East Policy, Make in India, manufacturing

February 2017

NACEN Holds Capacity Building Program for Bangladesh Customs Officers

The National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) in Faridabad, India organized a capacity building program for Bangladesh Customs. Topics included modern clearance processes, Customs valuation, post-clearance audit, use of risk management systems, and the role of Customs in economic corridors.

Read More

Tags: Customs, India, Free Trade Agreement, Economic corridor

February 2017

Commentary: India Infrastructure: Connecting Bihar

The Ganges flows through the middle of Bihar, India, physically dividing it into north and south. Enhanced connectivity can improve lives and livelihoods, especially if the infrastructure is climate-sensitive. Ms. Saleha Waseem, Operations Communications Specialist at the Asian Development Bank’s South Asia Regional Department, shows how improving transport links would make a huge difference to millions of people.

Read More

Tags: ADB, Agriculture, Bangladesh, Connectivity, Development, Economic corridor, Regional Cooperation, India, Nepal, Road, Services, Transport

January 2017

India to Sign Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods

India is set to join the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR), or International Road Transport Convention in its bid to establish seamless trade connectivity with Southeast Asia and Eurasian countries. Through the TIR Convention, India could access Eurasia via the International North-South Transport Corridor. TIR would also give India an advantage in trade with fellow signatories of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement.

Read More

Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Connectivity, Customs, Economic corridor, Harmonization, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Road, Roads, Trade Facilitation, Trade, Transport, BBIN

December 2016

SASEC Portfolio Tops $9 billion

The SASEC project portfolio has surpassed the $9 billion mark with the December 2016 approval of Nepal’s SASEC Roads Improvement Project, worth $256.5 million. There are now 44 SASEC investment projects worth a cumulative $9.13 billion. During 2016, seven projects have been approved for a total of $2.37 billion.

Read More

Tags: SASEC, Trade Facilitation, Energy, Transport, Roads, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, ICT, Rail, Economic corridor, Connectivity

November 2016

East Coast Economic Corridor to Include Odisha

The State Government of Odisha will prepare a conceptual development plan for the first phase of the East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) by March 2017. Odisha has been included in the ECEC following discussions between officials of the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank.

Read More

Tags: East Coast Economic Corridor, Economic corridor, Odisha, Make in India, manufacturing, ADB, India

October 2016

VCIC Receives Major Support from ADB

The $631 million loan and grant support from the Asian Development Bank provides a huge boost to the 800-kilometer Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) section of the 2500-km East Coast Economic Corridor. Approved in September 2016, the VCIC Development Program will help develop India’s first coastal industrial corridor and create seamless trade links between South and Southeast Asia.

Read More

Tags: Economic corridor, India, Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, Infrastructure, Ease of Doing Business

September 2016

SASEC Countries Gear Up for Greater Economic Cooperation

The six member countries of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program have launched the SASEC Operational Plan for 2016-2025. The plan expands the program’s focus beyond intraregional cooperation to deepening linkages with Southeast and East Asia, and widens the scope of transport, trade facilitation, and energy cooperation to include economic corridor development as a priority initiative. The plan also lists more than 200 potential regional projects for South Asia.

Read More

Tags: ADB, SASEC, Economic corridor, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka

September 2016

ADB to Fund India’s First Coastal Industrial Corridor

ADB has approved a multitranche financing facility and grant of $500 million for the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor Development Program to develop India’s first coastal industrial corridor, with the Government of India also contributing $215 million in funding. The Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor is a key section of India’s planned East Coast Economic Corridor. 

Read More

Tags: ADB, Economic corridor, Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, India, SASEC, SASEC Operational Plan

August 2016

India Proposes a National Industrial Corridor Development Authority

The Government of India has proposed formation of a National Industrial Corridor Development Authority to facilitate integrated development of industrial corridors across the country. Two corridors, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor, are currently under different stages of development.

Read More

Tags: India, Economic corridor, Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor,

July 2016

ADB Blog: Why Economic Corridor Development is the Way Forward for South Asia

The economic corridor development (ECD) strategy is an approach that integrates and synergizes industry, infrastructure, and urbanization through meticulous planning over a long-term horizon. An Asian Development Bank (ADB) blog post by Mr. Hoe Yun Jeong, Senior Economist (Regional Cooperation), South Asia Regional Department, published on 26 July 2016, shares how an ECD approach can be beneficial for the South Asia region.

Read More

Tags: Economic corridor, India, Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, South Asia, East Coast Economic Corridor, Economic Corridor Development, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

June 2016

Interactive SASEC Corridor Map on Website

The interactive SASEC Corridor Map on the SASEC Program website and SASEC Mobile App is your gateway to SASEC projects. View projects by sector—energy, transport, trade facilitation, and ICT—or by corridor using the interactive map, to learn how the SASEC program is helping promote regional prosperity in South Asia. The map also includes project information and links to SASEC project pages.

Read More

Tags: SASEC, Economic corridor, Energy, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives

May 2016

India, ADB to Enhance Connectivity in SASEC Region through Planned Infrastructure Projects

India is planning to develop regional connectivity projects worth around $5 billion under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported SASEC Program, according to Mr. Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, India. These initiatives include two priority road corridors that will boost connectivity with its neighbors in South and Southeast Asia and complementary integrated check posts and land Customs stations. India and ADB will also work together to develop the East Coast Econom

Read More

Tags: India, Economic corridor, Energy, Transport, Trade Facilitation

April 2016

Commentary: Political Economy of Regional Integration: Where Do We Stand in South Asia?

Dr. Selim Reihan notes that drivers of political economy can impact the region's integration agenda. In this essay, Dr. Raihan highlights the importance of exploring the political economy of regional integration to generate a better assessment of the factors driving and constraining regional integration, and create broader awareness among stakeholders to stimulate a more realistic and effective regional policy design and processes.

Read More

Tags: Economic corridor, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, SAARC, SAFTA, Services, South Asia, Infrastructure, Trade Facilitation, Transport

March 2016

Potential SASEC Project to Modernize Bangladesh's Regional Trade Links

Major upgrades to modernize the Tangail-Rangpur Highway—which is part of the 1,741 kilometers (km) linking Bangladesh with the Asian Highway, and the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal road network—are being proposed by Bangladesh Road and Highways Department, to include road widening and construction of bridges, flyovers, and culverts. The plan is currently being reviewed by Bangladesh Planning Ministry.

Read More

Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Economic corridor

January 2016

Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor to Boost Andhra Pradesh's Industrial Activity

A potential Asian Development Bank loan of $625 million will boost the planned $840 million Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC). VCIC will form part of India’s proposed East Coast Economic Corridor, with 4 industrial nodes expected to double industrial output and improve productivity in Andhra Pradesh by 30% over the next 2 decades.

Read More

Tags: Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, Transport, Ports, manufacturing, India, Economic corridor, ADB, Make in India

December 2015

Commentary: South Asia Could Be Linchpin for Regional Integration

South 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

June 2015

Seminar Highlights Role of Trade Facilitation in Economic Corridor Development

The Asian Development Bank hosted a seminar on economic corridor development on 30 June 2015, where Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Deutsche Post DHL Trade Facilitation and Logistics Expert, discussed necessary macroeconomic reforms from the logistics perspective of economic corridor development facilitation.

Read More

Tags: Customs, Economic corridor, Trade Facilitation

June 2015

Seminar Highlights Sri City’s Development Model

Mr. Srini Raju, Chairman and Founder of Sri City, an Indian integrated business city, shared Sri City's development philosophy of Work-Live-Learn-Play at a seminar organized by the Asian Development Bank's South Asia Department and the Urban Sector Group on 5 June 2015. Sri City pursues industrial growth by creating world-class infrastructure and a conducive business climate while supporting sustainable communities.

Read More

Tags: India, Economic corridor, Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor

May 2015

Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor Could Deepen Economic Integration

The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) – which received formal endorsement through an inter-governmental group meeting in December 2013 – could potentially bring significant benefits to the four countries by deepening economic cooperation and integration. BCIM-EC will increase socio-economic development and trade in South Asia.

Read More

Tags: Bangladesh, India, Economic corridor

June 2014

Bhutan and India to Pilot Secure Cross-Border Cargo Model

The Royal Kingdom of Bhutan and India are moving to more sophisticated technologies in an effort to increase trade efficiencies between the two countries. In May 2014, government officials from Bhutan and India agreed to embark on a feasibility study that will pilot UNESCAP's Secure Cross-Border Transport Model (SCBTM) along key trade corridors, aimed at speeding up and reducing the cost of trade through designated land routes and border-crossing points.

Read More

Tags: Transport, Connectivity, Economic corridor

January 2014

Economic Corridor Development for Inclusive Asian Regional Integration

The experience of economic corridor development in different regions across continents is examined in this publication, which shares detailed models that assess the economic impact of corridor investments. The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) model highlights the regionally inequitable impact of corridor projects and focuses on the incremental effects of infrastructure investments in terms of gains in per capita income.

Read More

Tags: Economic corridor, European Union, Infrastructure

March 2012

Kunming Conference

About 160 officials from 30 countries participated in the ADB conference on RCI held on 26-27 March in the PRC.

Read More

Tags: ADB, Climate Change, Economic corridor, Environment, Regional Cooperation, Regional Integration, South Asia, Sustainability, Transport, Trade Facilitation