South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Trade Facilitation Program

Date: November 2012
Country:
Subject:
Industry and trade; Regional cooperation and integration; Transport and ICT
Document Type: Reports and Recommendations of the President
Project Number: 45260-001

Description

This provides the report and recommendation of the president (RRP) for (i) a proposed policy-based loan to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, (ii) a proposed policy-based loan and grant to the Kingdom of Bhutan, and (iii) a proposed policy-based grant to Nepal for the SASEC Trade Facilitation Program. The RRP describes the terms and conditions for the approval of ADB's Board of Directors.

The program supports ADB’s South Asia Regional Cooperation Strategy, 2011–2015 and the goals of SASEC. Its intended impact is to increase trade, including intraregional trade, of SASEC countries by reducing or removing non-tariff barriers, specifically institutional, administrative, and technical barriers to trade in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. While India is not participating in the program because it is self-financing its trade facilitation reforms, it is part of the implementation through the SASEC Trade Facilitation and Transport Working Group. The program’s intended outcome is to support a more efficient, transparent, secure, and service-oriented processing of trade in the subregion.