Regional : Strategic Partnerships for Policy Development and Action to Foster Regional Cooperation in South Asia

Finance / Finance sector development

Industry and trade / Industry and trade sector development

Public sector management / Economic affairs management

RCSP (2006-2008); ADB Strategy 2020.

Greater economic and social stability in South Asia .

Strengthened knowledgebased collaboration among South Asian policy makers, researchers, and private sector partners to address national and regional development issues

The RETA objective was to strengthen knowledge-based collaboration

among South Asian researchers, policymakers, and private sector investors to address national and regional development issues by partnering with knowledge institutions. Research critical to regional trade in goods and services and promotion of private-sector led development was designed as Track II initiatives. Studies topics were identified in close consultation with the Government and consultations took place with a wide range of stakeholders in the region.

1. Four studies prepared outlining opportunities for accelerating regional collaboration

2. Studies and/or analysis disseminated, experiences shared, and policy impact assessed

and discussed

In 2010, Research and Information Systems (RIS), New Delhi, led three sets of studies in collaborations with institutions across South Asia: (i) Developing Economic Corridors in South Asia; (ii) Deepening the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement, and (iii) Expanding Regional Trade in South Asia with Global Production Network. Dissemination seminars were held in New Delhi, Colombo, Dhaka, and Kathmandu, with private sector and government agencies. Publication of the first two studies was initiated.

The second phase was initiated with two new institutions in middle of 2011 and an LoA was subsequently signed with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) for a study on Strengthening the Textile and Clothing Sector in South Asia. ICRIER partnered with five institutions in the region for the study which examined firms' strategies that have led to upward mobility in the value chains in the post-MFA period. Five country studies based on analyses of secondary data, case studies of leading firms and stakeholder consultations fed into the final report. Two workshops were held in 2012 in New Delhi.

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) undertook two sets of studies with a netork of researchers and policymakers across South Asia to prepare regional reports on: (i) Development Impact of Trade and FDI in South Asian Countries, and (ii) Potential Supply Chain in South Asia in Leather, and (iii) Potential Supply Chain in South Asia in the Agriculture Sector. A regional consultation seminar was held in Dhaka in May 2012 for the Agriculture study and in September 2012 in Chennai for the Leather study after which a SAARC Leather Manufacturers Association was established.

Publication of all studies is planned under other knowledge TAs.

The TA will require 6 person-months of international and 12 person-months of national consulting services on intermittent basis that will be hired as individual consultants according to ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2007, as amended from time to time).

The international consultant is a development specialist with working experience on issues related to international trade, environment, regional cooperation and private sector/SME development. The consultant should be familiar with the work of research institutes in South Asia and has a good understanding of the political, institutional, and operational mechanisms for promoting regional cooperation in South Asia.

The national consultant is a coordination specialist responsible for assisting ADB and the international development specialist in coordinating and supervising all activities under the TA. The consultant will provide inputs intermittently and/or part-time, as required.