While the export of textile products contributes significantly to the Bangladesh economy, reliance on these exports also poses risks to the economy. For instance, the garment sector suffered tremendously when the coronavirus pandemic struck, during which factories shut down and many workers, mostly women, lost their jobs. This report looks at how Bangladesh can foster economic growth by diversifying its participation in trade and global value chains.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2023

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Tags: Bangladesh, ADB, Trade, COVID-19, Global Value Chains

Countries are shifting to using green energy sources to meet their energy needs and cut emissions. While South Asia may have ample renewable energy and hydropower resources, demand exceeds local supply, and the countries have had to rely heavily on imports. To help improve energy security in the region, South Asian countries have signed bilateral and multilateral agreements to trade energy, including India-Nepal hydropower projects and the India-Bhutan hydroelectric joint venture.

Author: CUTS International

Year: 2023

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Tags: Energy, Trade, South Asia, Hydropower, Bhutan, India, Nepal

This report monitors global and regional foreign direct investment trends and national and international investment policy developments. Across South Asia in 2022, FDI inflows rose by 4.4% to $58 billion while FDI outflows rose by 1.1% to $16 billion. South Asia posted the largest increase in greenfield projects, with announced greenfield projects in India more than doubling in 2022.

Author: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Year: 2023

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Tags: UNCTAD, Trade, South Asia

Least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states in Asia and the Pacific have been working to promote seamless transport to facilitate trade. Bangladesh, for example, has completed construction of the new Akhaura (Bangladesh) to Agartala (India) railway link, and has begun operations of Oxygen Express train carrying liquid medical oxygen as well as regular freight services between Haldibari in India and Chilahati in Bangladesh. Across South Asia, countries have also been rolling out an Electronic Cargo Tracking System under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to make cargo movement more seamless.

Author: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Year: 2023

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Tags: Trade, South Asia, UNESCAP, Regional Cooperation, Sustainable Development Goals, Railway, Bangladesh, India

Connecting to Compete presents the findings from the latest data from the 2023 Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and its six component indicators: Customs, infrastructure, international shipments, logistics competence, tracking and tracing, and timeliness. The seventh edition, which now covers 139 countries, is released following unprecedented disruptions in supply chains amid the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Author: World Bank

Year: 2023

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Tags: WB, Trade, Logistics, South Asia