The Subregional Capacity Building Workshop on ‘Promoting Multi-modal Connectivity in Eastern South Asia’ was held in Paro, Bhutan on 22-23 October. It brought together participants from Bhutan, Nepal, India and Bangladesh to discuss strengthening cross-border trade and transport linkages, as well as explore means to deepen cooperation among all stakeholders.

Inaugurating the Workshop, Chandra Bahadur Gurung, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the Royal Government of Bhutan highlighted that the Eastern South Asia subregion has been making significant strides in transport connectivity infrastructure development and trade facilitation measures in recent years. “The subregion stands at a crucial juncture in its development journey, as it urgently needs further policy reforms and investments to fully harness its collective intra-regional trade potential,” he added.

“In Eastern South Asia, connectivity is critical for countries and regions that are landlocked or graduating from least developed status to prosper and sustain.  Connectivity must enable small-scale traders, women entrepreneurs, local communities and other marginalised groups to participate and benefit,” said Mikiko Tanaka, Head of ESCAP South and South-West Asia Office.

Workshop participants took stock of important infrastructural investments and policy cooperation undertaken by the countries in recent years. These include modernizing facilities at important border crossing points, opening new international transit routes, and deploying digital platforms at many land customs stations in the subregion. Notable examples were shared such as the establishment of new Integrated Check Posts at Indian land ports, development of dry ports adjacent to key trade centres and gateways in Bhutan and Nepal, inauguration of the new Agartala – Akhaura rail route between India and Bangladesh.

Participants also agreed that the momentum generated by such positive developments must be kept alive by taking collective action to address remaining connectivity bottlenecks. Priority actions include removing port-specific restrictions imposed on products with high trade potential, improving product testing, warehousing and quarantine facilities, increasing digital trade facilities, and easing trade related financial transactions. 

Women entrepreneurs at the session further shared experiences of overcoming social barriers to grow their businesses and participate in cross-border trade and transport. The Land Port Authority of India presented its groundbreaking initiative to promote gender equality at all land ports. Participants recognized the importance of policies and initiatives to enable women’s participation in trade and transport across Eastern South Asia.      

The Workshop is part of ESCAP’s capacity building and technical assistance programmes for improving subregional connectivity, based on Asia-Pacific regional transport and trade facilitation frameworks. Participants comprised of transport and trade officials, customs and border control agencies, think-tanks, logistics service providers, traders and women entrepreneurs, UN, World Bank, Japan and the Secretariats of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).