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

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Tags: India, Ports

Bangladesh’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

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Tags: Bangladesh, Trade

Phuentsholing, Bhutan, strategically positioned on the Indian border, faces the challenge of sustaining its rapid growth while strengthening its role as a key economic gateway. This brief outlines how ADB is supporting Bhutan through initiatives that enhance infrastructure, boost connectivity, and build disaster resilience. Among the highlighted initiatives is ADB’s support for modernizing Bhutan’s customs systems under the SASEC Transport, Trade Facilitation, and Logistics Project. The upgraded system has significantly improved the speed, efficiency, and transparency of customs clearances, accelerating both imports and exports across the country.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2025

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Tags: Bhutan, Trade Facilitation, Transport

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is becoming a global government priority as essential “soft” digital systems that enable identification, payments, data exchange, and interoperability for national digital transformation. This report by the Asian Development Bank provides a perspective of the digital development landscape in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, focusing on the deployment of DPI and its enablers, highlighting country-specific investment and reform opportunities to advance digital transformation by leveraging DPI. Regional cooperation opportunities are also highlighted as cross-border DPI interoperability enables seamless digital services across countries, furthering trade and people-to-people connections.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2025

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

The World Investment Report monitors global and regional foreign direct investment (FDI) trends and national and international investment policy developments. In 2025, inflow of FDI in South Asia was broadly stable. India accounted for the majority FDI inflows in the subregion amid a small decline, while Sri Lanka experienced an increase in investment flows.

Author: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Year: 2025

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Tags: UNCTAD, Trade, South Asia, India, Sri Lanka