Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM (EST)
Though South Asia boasts an average of 6% GDP growth per annum, it remains one of the least economically integrated regions in the world. Intraregional trade accounts for only 7% of total regional exports, compared to more than 20% for East Asia. Despite a number of trade liberalization efforts undertaken since 1990, South Asia continues to be highly protected.
Yet, with a commitment from governments to invest in transportation infrastructure and develop policies that encourage trade creation rather than trade diversion, South Asia has the capacity to increase trade flows substantially. In effect, intraregional trade has the potential to increase by 60% or US $2,644M and interregional trade by 30% or US $27,560M.
The session will be opened by Ejaz Syed Ghani, World Bank Economic Advisor for South Asia, who will explain the purpose of the South Asia regional cooperation dialogues. Alina Mustra, World Bank Trade Facilitation & Logistics Specialist for South Asia will give the opening remarks, touching on some of the challenges in trade/transport confronting countries in South Asia.
C.P. Navneeth, a Senior Manager at the tea broking company, J. Thomas & Co. Pvt. Ltd., will discuss the challenges he faces on a day-to-day basis in moving tea from Gauhati (NE India) to the rest of the country. R.B. Rauniar, Managing Director of the Interstate Multimodal Transport Pvt. Ltd. (Nepal) will speak to some of the impediments to intraregional trade/transport as he experiences them through his work. Major Amjad Chowdhury, CEO of PRAN from Bangladesh will also present his experiences of the challenges of trade due to transport constraints. Finally, a discussion will follow with Mr. Ashish Narain, World Bank Senior Economist for South Asia and Marianne Kilpatrick, Senior Transport Specialist for South Asia, World Bank moderating.
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