Regional : Advancing Cooperation in the Maritime Sector in South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program

Sovereign Project | 53175-001

This knowledge and support technical assistance will advance cooperation in the maritime sector of five countriesBangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar and Sri Lanka under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program. The Technical Assistance (TA) will focus on addressing common issues adversely impacting on the performance of the subregion's ports. It will conduct analytical studies to identify infrastructure projects designed to enhance maritime connectivity in South and Southeast Asia and ensure effective knowledge-sharing and capacity development of relevant agencies on how best to address these issues. The TA is designed to include activities that encourage dialogue among stakeholders in the maritime sector in SASEC Countries. The TA is fully aligned with the strategic priorities laid out in the Regional Cooperation and Integration Operational Plan 2016-2020 and the SASEC Operational Plan 2016-2025.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Hayashi, Tadateru
    South Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Regional
  • Sector
    • Industry and trade
Project Name Advancing Cooperation in the Maritime Sector in South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program
Project Number 53175-001
Country / Economy Regional
Bangladesh
India
Maldives
Myanmar
Sri Lanka
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 9758-REG: Advancing Cooperation in the Maritime Sector in South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program
United Kingdom Fund for Asia Regional Trade and Connectivity under the Regional Cooperation and Integration Financing Partnership Facility US$ 1.50 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector

Industry and trade / Industry and trade sector development

Gender Some gender elements
Description This knowledge and support technical assistance will advance cooperation in the maritime sector of five countriesBangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar and Sri Lanka under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program. The Technical Assistance (TA) will focus on addressing common issues adversely impacting on the performance of the subregion's ports. It will conduct analytical studies to identify infrastructure projects designed to enhance maritime connectivity in South and Southeast Asia and ensure effective knowledge-sharing and capacity development of relevant agencies on how best to address these issues. The TA is designed to include activities that encourage dialogue among stakeholders in the maritime sector in SASEC Countries. The TA is fully aligned with the strategic priorities laid out in the Regional Cooperation and Integration Operational Plan 2016-2020 and the SASEC Operational Plan 2016-2025.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

SASEC member countries recognize that transport, especially maritime connectivity, is a prime catalyst for international trade competitiveness and economic growth, with its critical support role in international logistics. The inclusion of Maldives, Sri Lanka and Myanmar in the program has raised the importance of maritime connectivity for SASEC. However, there has not been a modal cooperation mechanism within SASEC for the maritime transport sector.

Considering current delays in container transit, the ability to expedite transit times between discharging from the vessel and delivering cargo to the end user will reduce trade and transport costs and ensure the reliability of international logistics chains.

Trade in South Asia is expected to continue to increase significantly both in terms of intra-regional movements and trade outside the region. Most of this import and export traffic will be carried via the maritime mode. Thus, advancing cooperation in the maritime sector in the SASEC countries is crucial in ensuring that the subregion's potential economic growth can be fully realized, particularly as income generated by trade can be used to address poverty alleviation.

A core problem faced by SASEC ports is the limited maritime connectivity among member countries. Contributory causes include (i) the high cost of trade and transport, (ii) delays in the transit of containers and/or excessive dwell times at SASEC ports, (iii) redundant and manual data exchanges between various parties in the port community, (iv) prolonged cargo clearance procedures, (v) limited inland transport and port infrastructure adversely impacting on hinterland logistics, (vi) legal and regulatory barriers, and (vii) limited knowledge of maritime cooperation and coordination and international best practices in port operations.

Impact

(i) Port infrastructure to enable the efficient handling of the subregion's maritime trade developed and capacity to cope with anticipated growth in container traffic expanded.

(ii) Port logistics and facilities for efficient handling of cargo in major SASEC ports improved.

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Pipeline of SASEC maritime projects and initiatives finalized.

Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

1. Analytical studies promoting maritime cooperation in SASEC conducted

2. Capacity and knowledge of SASEC officials on improving port performance and greening of ports enhanced

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

(i) The final reports on the studies on port greening, port community system, port logistics and hinterland connectivity, and cruise tourism have been completed.

-The study on port greening investigates practical measures and identify future investment projects related to energy efficiency improvement, local renewable power generation, and environmental management.

-The study on port community system formulates plans on digitizing business procedures that will help reduce time and cost of port operations in selected SASEC ports.

-The study on port logistics and hinterland connectivity focuses on key strategies to improve selected ports and port access in the subregion to provide robust port infrastructure and efficient connectivity solutions.

-The study on cruise tourism assesses the potential growth of cruise tourism post COVID-19 and presents a plan of action to spur the growth of the sector in the subregion.

(ii) Stakeholder consultations and virtual knowledge sharing events on the findings of the studies have been undertaken. These dissemination workshops presented the findings and recommendations of the studies and sought stakeholders' guidance on the follow-up actions.

-Dissemination Workshops on Findings of Port Greening Study Bangladesh (September 2021), India (November 2020) and Maldives (September 2020)

-Dissemination Workshops on Findings of Port Community System Study Bangladesh (November 2020, and Maldives (October 2020)

-Dissemination Workshop on Findings of Port Logistics and Inland Connectivity Study Bangladesh, India and Maldives (July 2021)

-Dissemination Workshops on Findings of Cruise Tourism Study Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar and Sri Lanka (December 2020)

(iii) The study on institutional and regulatory framework will be initiated in 2022, but will be financed by TA 6674-REG: Strengthening the Institutional Mechanism of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program.

Geographical Location Bangladesh - Nation-wide; India - Nation-wide; Maldives - Nation-wide; Myanmar - Nation-wide; Sri Lanka - Nation-wide
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services A consulting firm, as well as individual international and national consultants, will be hired on an intermittent basis on output-based contracts where appropriate. Resource persons with specialized knowledge in key areas under the TA's scope will also be hired on the basis of need. ADB will engage consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated instructions and/or staff instructions.
Responsible ADB Officer Hayashi, Tadateru
Responsible ADB Department South Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Div, SARD
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
Timetable
Concept Clearance 09 May 2019
Fact Finding 18 Mar 2019 to 18 Mar 2019
MRM -
Approval 08 Jul 2019
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 29 Nov 2021

TA 9758-REG

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
08 Jul 2019 - 08 Jul 2019 30 Jun 2021 31 Dec 2021 01 Feb 2022
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
0.00 1,500,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,500,000.00 07 Dec 2022 1,220,165.18

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

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Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

Title Document Type Document Date
Advancing Cooperation in the Maritime Sector in South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program Validation of Technical Assistance Completion Reports Mar 2023

Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Tourism Infrastructure and Services Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Consulting Firm Firm - Consulting Closed
Tourism Development Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Port Operations and Processes Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Port Technology Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Trade Facilitation Specialist (Maritime Ports) Individual - Consulting Closed
Energy Expert (Maritime Ports) Individual - Consulting Closed
Environment Expert (Maritime Ports) Individual - Consulting Closed
Economist (Maritime Ports) Individual - Consulting Closed
Economist Individual - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

None currently available.