South Asia Economic Update April 2026Amid the effects of an energy market dislocation, South Asia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to slow to 6.3% in fiscal year (FY) 2026 before regaining momentum at 6.9% in FY2027. In Bangladesh, growth will hasten to 3.9% in FY2026 and 4.6% in FY2027. The Bhutan economy is projected to grow 7.1% in FY2025-2026 and 6.4% in FY2025-2026. Growth in India is estimated to reach 7.6% in FY22026 before decelerating to 6.6% FY2027. In Maldives, disruptions in tourism brought down GDP growth to 0.7% in FY2026. A 7.2% GDP is projected for Maldives in FY2027. In Nepal, after growth dipped to 2.3% in FY2025-2026, economic activity will rebound to 4.2% in FY2026-2027. Sri Lanka is projected to experience moderate growth of 3.6% in FY2026 and rebound to 3.8% in FY2027. Inflation remains low in South Asia in 2026. Author: World Bank Year: 2026 Download Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, WB, Tourism, South Asia  Asian Development Outlook April 2026: The Middle East Conflict Challenges Resilience in Asia and the PacificAcross all subregions in developing Asia and the Pacific, growth is projected to moderate in fiscal year (FY) 2026, due in part to conflict in the Middle East that has resulted in disruptions in the energy market. In South Asia, gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to grow at 6.3% in FY2026 and 6.8% in FY2027. GDP in Bangladesh is forecast to recover in FY2026 and FY2027 due to financial sector reforms. In Bhutan, the construction of new hydropower plants will bolster growth at in FY2026 and in FY2027. In India, GDP growth will moderate to 6.9% in FY2026 and expand to 7.3% in FY2027. Growth is forecast to slow in Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in FY2026, before experiencing an acceleration of growth in FY2027. In Southeast Asia, GDP in Myanmar is forecast at 2.4% in FY2026 and 2.7% in FY2027. Inflation in South Asia is projected at 5% in FY2026 and 4.6% in FY2027. Author: World Bank Year: 2026 Download Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, SASEC, Hydropower, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Energy, South Asia Asian Economic Integration Report 2026: Leveraging Regional Cooperation and Integration to Navigate Global UncertaintiesAmid global uncertainties, economic integration continues to strengthen in Asia and the Pacific. From 2006 to 2023, intraregional integration has deepened in South Asia through such initiatives as the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Author: Asian Development Bank Year: 2026 Download Tags: ADB, South Asia, Regional Cooperation, SASEC, BIMSTEC, SAARC, Trade Anchoring Global Efficiency: Visakhapatnam Leads India’s Entry into the World’s Top 20 Container Ports This case study explores how Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Port advanced remarkably in the 2023 Container Port Performance Index—rising to 19th from 115th in 2022, by tackling long‑standing operational, coordination, and decision‑making challenges. It highlights how the Visakhapatnam Port Authority, together with its private terminal operator, pursued a focused strategy that paired targeted infrastructure and technology investments with pragmatic process reforms. These actions reduced vessel turnaround times, cut delays, and boosted container throughput. The study also examines ongoing initiatives to strengthen last‑mile and hinterland connectivity and to ease interactions between port operations and the surrounding urban environment. Author: Prachi Sharma and Gupta Richa Year: 2025 Download Tags: India, Ports  Supporting Bangladesh’s Exports After Least Developed Country Graduation: Toward a World Trade Organization-Compatible MechanismBangladesh’s forthcoming graduation from least developed country (LDC) status in November 2026 marks a major development achievement, underscoring decades of strong socioeconomic progress. Yet this transition also poses risks, particularly to the country’s hard‑won export competitiveness. This paper outlines strategic policy priorities to support a smooth and WTO‑consistent shift to a post‑LDC export regime. These include: (i) capitalizing on the WTO’s Thirteenth Ministerial Conference “due restraint” decision; (ii) seeking inclusion under Annex VII(b) of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures to preserve limited transitional flexibilities; (iii) shifting to WTO‑compatible policy tools by fully delinking all incentives from export performance; (iv) scaling up green and innovation‑driven industrial support; and (v) reducing reliance on subsidies in favor of deeper structural competitiveness reforms. Author: Asian Development Bank Year: 2025 Download Tags: Bangladesh, Trade |
