In 2022, under the operational priority of Fostering Regional Cooperation and Integration, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided support for a $143-million program in Bangladesh to construct integrated customs stations and land ports at border-crossings to help increase trade volumes among South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) countries. In India, ADB committed $300 million to upgrade district roads in Assam, which will reduce travel time to SASEC corridors. ADB is also supporting a nonsovereign loan that would improve communication network capacity and mobile services in Maldives.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2023

Download

Tags: ADB, SASEC, Maldives, India, Bangladesh, Road

South Asia is projected to grow faster than other subregions in Asia, with real gross domestic product (GDP) estimated at 5.5% in fiscal year (FY) 2023 and 6.1 in FY2024. Growth within South Asia is expected to vary, with India projected to grow by 6.4% in FY2023 and 6.7% in FY2024 behind strong domestic demand. In Bangladesh, GDP growth is estimated at 5.3% in FY2023 owing to global economic disruptions and 6.5% in FY2024. In Bhutan, hydropower production will push up growth to 4.6% in FY2023 and 4.2% in FY2024. Growth in Maldives is estimated at 7.1% in FY2023 and 6.9% in FY2024, supported by a boom in tourism and construction. In Nepal, growth will slow to 4.1% this year before picking up in FY2024 at 5.0% with a recovery in tourism and infrastructure. Sri Lanka is projected to contract at -3.0% in FY2023 before recovering to 1.3% in FY2024 premised on debt relief and key reforms. In Southeast Asia, Myanmar's GDP will rise moderately to 2.8% in FY2023 and 3.2% in FY2024.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2023

Download

Tags: South Asia, Hydropower, ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka

This report shows how smart trade and investment policies, and regulatory cooperation in the Asia and Pacific region can help economies tackle climate change, recover from the pandemic, and support resilient and sustainable development. Analyzing topics including global value chains, investment, the movement of people, and regional cooperation initiatives, it outlines the economic and environmental challenges the region currently faces. It explores how trade and investment policies can support climate action and highlights why a joined-up approach is essential to help deepen the digital economy, strengthen supply chains and foster greener businesses, markets, and trade.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2023

Download

Tags: SASEC, Infrastructure, ADB, Connectivity, Climate Change, Global Value Chains, Trade

The northeast of India is shares international borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar and acts as a bridge for India's participation in global forums through the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation program. This paper highlights challenges in global trade and suggests ways for improving trade with other countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Author: Sanchita Basu Das and Soumya Chattopadhyay

Year: 2023

Download

Tags: India, Trade Facilitation, SASEC, BIMSTEC, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar

Ships carry over 80% of the volume of global trade. In South Asia, intraregional shipping connections increased as India improved its shipping connections to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. The most connected port in South Asia is the Colombo port in Sri Lanka; the Colombo port ranked the 24th best port in the world in 2021.

Author: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Year: 2022

Download

Tags: India, Sri Lanka, Transport, Trade, Global Value Chains