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How Can Regional Cooperation Support South Asia’s COVID-19 recovery?

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Regional integration, cooperation, and engagement can produce significant gains across South Asia. Intra-regional trade, for instance, stands at only a third of its potential with an estimated gap of $23 billion. Cooperation in energy between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal could lead to savings of $17 billion. Transporting goods across the region can cost up to 50 percent more than within the OECD countries. As South Asia grapples with the economic impact of COVID-19, it has an opportunity to strengthen regional institutions, improve regional infrastructure and connectivity, advance trade policy, and develop cross-border solutions to shared problems

The One South Asia webinar series is part of the World Bank’s updated regional integration, cooperation, and engagement strategy for South Asia that focuses on enabling economic connectivity, reducing vulnerabilities, and investing in human capital.

We invite you to send questions to panelists by email: [email protected]

Join the conversation online with #OneSouthAsia

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Julie Vorman

Speaker @RubanaHuq of Bangladesh: Collaboration in supply chains and trade needed throughout #OneSouthAsia. Ms. Huq is president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. "Regional value creation should be our primary focus" and East Asia should be target market for #OneSouthAsia.

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 09:32

Julie Vorman

Speaker @RubanaHuq of Bangladesh: Collaboration in supply chains and trade needed throughout #OneSouthAsia. Ms. Huq is president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. "Regional value creation should be our primary focus" and East Asia should be target market for #OneSouthAsia.

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 09:32

Suraj

The problem in South Asia is the political agenda overtakes all forms of cooperation. So what Mr. Saran says is true. So fundamentally SAARC secretary which has been not been affective as ASAN or others, What can de done to make it more affective.? how can we move ahead if political agendas supersedes all other.?

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 09:32

Suraj

The problem in South Asia is the political agenda overtakes all forms of cooperation. So what Mr. Saran says is true. So fundamentally SAARC secretary which has been not been affective as ASAN or others, What can de done to make it more affective.? how can we move ahead if political agendas supersedes all other.?

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 09:32

Samir Rai

@Ruhana, the relative size of the two economies should also be taken into account. Its not disparity.

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 09:32

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The Event has concluded

Speakers

Hartwig Schafer

Vice President, South Asia Region, World Bank Group

@HartwigSchafer
Cecile Fruman

Director, Regional Integration and Engagement, South Asia

@cfruman
Rubana Huq

President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and Managing Director, Mohammadi Group.

@Rubanahuq
Ambassador Shyam Saran

Former Foreign Secretary of India, Currently Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research
Swarnim Waglé

Former Vice-Chair, National Planning Commission, Nepal

@Swarnimwagle