The paper, published by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment, situates the challenges of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the South Asian context. Noting that the delivery of the Millennium Development Goals in the region had been quite uneven, the paper examines the potential for regional cooperation to better achieve the SDGs. The paper then tries to chart a South Asian pathway for SDGs implementation and put forward some concrete proposals for South Asian countries.

Author: Debapriya Bhattacharya and Umme Shefa Rezbana

Year: 2016

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Tags: ASEAN, India, Economic Integration

Asian development and the strengthening of regional cooperation and integration (RCI) worldwide will experience the effects of growing structural reform issues, such as slowing productivity growth, increasing economic inequalities and systemic vulnerabilities. Hence, future RCI policies will need to complement domestic policy reform. This book examines factors that drive the regional economic integration of nations, and explains how beneficial integration can generate broad-based, equitable wealth in Asia.

Author: Hans-Peter Brunner

Year: 2016

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Tags: Regional Integration, Regional Cooperation, Economic Integration

This theme study outlines a conceptual framework, a set of strategies and policy options, and offers perspectives on institutional frameworks for integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic growth, social progress and environmental protection. Regional cooperation is critical in maximizing opportunities for building synergies between the three dimensions. Initiatives at the regional level should consider establishing a regional road map, supporting regional economic integration initiatives, and strengthening regional platforms, including the United Nations and the multilateral system.

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

Year: 2015

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Tags: Asia-Pacific, Economic Integration, Regional Cooperation, Economic Growth, Environment, Sustainability, UNESCAP

The paper "Indo-Nepal Economic Cooperation: A Subregional Perspective" published in this issue of the Asia-Pacific Development Journal (APDJ) explores how subregional engagement among bordering regions can stimulate economic cooperation among countries in South Asia. It assesses the current status and potential of greater integration between India and Nepal, and develops a SWOT (strength-weakness-opportunity-threat) analysis reflecting on the need for a subregional approach to promotion of regional cooperation. APDJ, published twice a year by the Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division of UNESCAP, provides a platform for exchange of knowledge, experience, ideas, information and data on all aspects of economic and social development issues and concerns facing the region.

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

Year: 2014

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Tags: Economic Integration, India, Nepal, Trade, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Transport, Trade, Tourism

This executive summary focuses on Phase II of the study on Regional Economic Integration, commissioned by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretariat with the technical and financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank, and outlines a roadmap toward a South Asian Economic Union (SAEU). It presents an overview of intra-regional trade in South Asia—with India accounting for 65% of the region's combined total exports, and Sri Lanka 24% of total intra-regional imports—and discusses specific priority steps, using a phased and planned approach that quantifies potential gains from priority sectors identified in Phase I, needed to achieve regional economic integration. Thus, while non-tariff barriers, infrastructure constraints and other factors continue to challenge regional cooperation and integration in South Asia, reference by SAARC leaders toward an SAEU indicates a willingness to consider bold action.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2014

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Tags: SAARC, South Asian Economic Union, Economic Integration, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Regional Integration

This AEIM review of recent economic performance highlights the need for Asia to rebalance its sources of growth toward domestic and regional demand. It also shows a resilient Asia with rising GDP growth in South Asia. This issue includes a Special Chapter: Regional Financial Integration and Crisis in Asia and Europe – A Comparative Analysis. It presents Asia’s future path of integration as different from that in Europe. Asia will continue to strengthen efforts to harmonize rules and regulations in the financial sector and further unilateral trade and investment, while Europe is more likely to strengthen regional institutions to ensure recovery and better the monetary union.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2014

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Tags: Asia-Pacific, Economic Integration, Europe, ASEAN, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Regional Integration, Sri Lanka, Trade Facilitation, Transport

This ADB Working Paper Series on Regional Economic Integration presents a preliminary assessment of the new World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation (ATF), level of commitment of each Member, and impacts of the ATF. One of the first substantial deliverables of the Doha Development Agenda – the ATF – need not be ambitious but could include softening language where developing Members made full commitments. Furthermore, the ATF can be a useful guide for trade facilitation reform.

Author: Shintaro Hamanaka

Year: 2014

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Tags: WTO, Transport Facilitation, Trade Policy, Trade Facilitation, Regional Integration, Economic Integration

This publication is an extension of an earlier study conducted by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries and presents opportunities in cross-border production networks between North Eastern Region (NER) of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. It also explores NER’s growth potential, including the role of trade facilitation in enhancing trade and production networks. Supply-side constraints in the region, as well as bottlenecks to cross-border production links, are further identified through extensive field surveys and structured questionnaires. Finally, this publication argues that logistical efficiency is crucial to production networks between India and Bangladesh, and NER states should be engaged in closer economic integration.

Author: Prabir De and Manab Majumdar

Year: 2014

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Tags: India, Bangladesh, Economic Integration, Regional Integration

This 2014 edition of UNESCAP's flagship publication emphasizes the importance of furthering regional connectivity in Asia-Pacific—a region which, despite significant reductions in poverty levels, is now witnessing rising income inequality, both within and between countries. It calls for driving the region's growth by exploiting the interdependence and synergies of five elements: trade and transport connectivity, ICT networks, energy connectivity, people-to-people networks, and promotion of knowledge-based economies, and advocates approaching connectivity as a regional public good.

Author: UNESCAP

Year: 2014

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Tags: Economic Integration, Regional Cooperation, Poverty Reduction, Asia-Pacific, Connectivity, Energy, ICT, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Trade, Transport, UNESCAP

This volume, co-published by the Asian Development Bank and the Korea Economic Research Institute, reflects one of the broad thematic sessions of the Seoul conference, Beyond Factory Asia. It assesses the challenges and sustainability of the Factory Asia model – supplying from the East and consuming in the West – and provides suggestions and strategies on effective management of these concerns. The volume further analyzes obstacles in the success of Factory Asia, its speed in expanding its own domestic and regional markets, and its progress in upgrading competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. The new Factory Asia must nurture new sources of growth in the region and focus on regional economic integration.

Author: Choi Byung-il and Changyong Rhee (eds.)

Year: 2014

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Tags: Economic Integration, Asia-Pacific, Trade Policy, ADB, Asia, Manufacturing, Regional Integration, Bangladesh, Energy, Sri Lanka, Transport

The impact of the global financial crisis (GFC) reverberated deeply throughout the financial markets of Europe and the United States. In contrast, due to its relative independence from global financial markets at that time, Asia was sheltered from its painful blow. As the GFC fast-tracked the growth of Asian economies, thrusting them to the center and leading the global recovery, questions about Asia's financial future come up: how can Asian growth and development continue? This book reviews lessons learned from the GFC and looks at important Asian policy responses to the crisis, including capital account liberalization in India. It also attempts to provide a road map for the future, discussing how Asia can strengthen regional institutions and cooperate, while undertaking domestic reforms consistent with the regional and global agenda, and by proposing strategies for financial integration in the region.

Author: Yiping Huang and Shiro Armstrong (eds.)

Year: 2014

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Tags: Regional Integration, Economic Integration, Asia, Europe, India

The Regional Economic Outlook: Asia and Pacific is one of the five Regional Economic Outlooks published bi-annually by the International Monetary Fund, and contains recent economic developments and prospects for the region. This report shows that Asia is a continuing source of global economic dynamism having strengthened its resilience to global risks, and is well positioned to meet future challenges if it stays on course with reform. Chapter 3 highlights the growing source of interconnectedness in the region and the need for policymakers to maximize growth benefits while managing vulnerabilities.

Author: International Monetary Fund

Year: 2014

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Tags: Economic Integration, Trade Policy, Regional Integration, Asia-Pacific, Bangladesh, Economics, India, Sri Lanka

This joint ADB-ADBI study focuses on how improved physical connectivity (infrastructure) and associated institutional connectivity (software) can enhance more effective economic integration between the two subregions. The report reviews economic ties, identifies issues and constraints, and explores better connectivity and closer economic integration. It also examines major developments in South Asia-Southeast Asia trade and investment, economic cooperation, role of economic corridors, and regional cooperation initiatives.

Author: ADB and ADBI

Year: 2013

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Tags: Infrastructure, Economic Integration, Regional Cooperation, Trade, Transport, Trade Facilitation, Economic Corridor, Energy

This Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) is a response to the Government of Bangladesh’s request to build a foundation for accelerated growth through enhanced economic integration. The study analyzes Bangladesh’s internal and external constraints for further integration into the world economy. DTIS contains a large number of industry and service sector studies that summarize policies and gaps in physical and institutional infrastructure, consolidate the country’s strength and potential in existing sectors, and highlight export growth and performance in Bangladesh.

Author: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Year: 2013

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Tags: Economic Integration, Trade Policy, Bangladesh, Infrastructure, Exports, Employment

This publication explores the barriers and impediments to the realization of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and to what extent its self-imposed deadline of 2015 for achievement of an AEC is more of a milestone of progress than a firm target. It examines whether the AEC is achievable, the obstacles faced in achieving it, and the measures required to help it become a reality.

Author: Asian Development Bank

Year: 2013

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Tags: Regional Cooperation, Regional Integration, Trade Policy, ASEAN, Economic Integration, Regional Cooperation, ADB, Regional Integration, Services, Global Value Chains, Non-Tariff Measures, Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, India, Trade Facilitation

This paper examines the benefits of regional cooperation and integration, focusing on the cost of neglecting to address the binding constraints to regional cooperation and integration. Component papers in this volume analyze the current state of play, and identifies the binding constraints to achieving more efficient transport corridors, regional energy trade and trade facilitation in the region.

Author: Gilberto M. Llanto

Year: 2010

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Tags: Regional Cooperation, Economic Integration, Trade Facilitation, Energy, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Transport