News List

Compiled features on recent developments in regional cooperation and integration in the SASEC region.

Year:
January 2022

High Commissioner of India to Maldives Calls On Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Munu Mahawar, High Commissioner of India to Maldives, paid a courtesy call to Mr. Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Maldives. They reviewed ongoing developmental projects being implemented with the support of the Government of India and other cooperation program between India and Maldives.

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Tags: India, Maldives, Cooperation

February 2020

Experts Call for Energy Cooperation among BIMSTEC Countries

Policymakers and experts have begun discussions on the creation of a regional power grid for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries.

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Tags: BIMSTEC, Bangladesh, Cooperation, Energy, Nepal

July 2018

MoU to boost Myanmar-Nepal Bilateral Consultation Signed

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Myanmar and Nepal have signed an MoU establishing a bilateral consultation mechanism. The first meeting reviewed Myanmar-Nepal relations, and discussed how to further boost cooperation between the two nations.

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Tags: Myanmar, Nepal, Cooperation, Trade, Investment

May 2018

Nepal Eminent Persons' Group Seeks to Further Boost Vizag Port Trade Efficiency

A delegation of Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) members from Nepal visited the Visakhapatnam (Vizag) port on 24 May 2018. The team met with Mr. Movva Tirumala Krishna Babu, Chairman, Vizag Port Trust. The Meeting recommended measures to boost efficiency of cargo shipment from Vizag port to Nepal.

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Tags: Nepal, India, Ports, Trade, Transit, Hydropower, Cooperation

May 2018

Ministerial Meeting of LLDCs Emphasize Need to Address Trade and Transport Issues

The 9th Annual Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) on Trade and Transport was held to discussed key issues in transport, transit cooperation, trade, and trade facilitation among LLDCs. Bhutan and Nepal sent delegations to the Meeting. They highlighted initiatives being taken to connect their countries to the global market, including bilateral agreements in the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal subregion and the SASEC Trade Facilitation Program.

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Tags: Trade, Trade Facilitation, Sustainable Development Goals, Cooperation, Connectivity, Bilateral Agreement, Bilateral Trade, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, SASEC, India, Transport, Ports, Customs, Roads, Single Window

February 2018

Eminent Persons Group Drafting New Blueprint for India-Nepal Relations

Eminent Persons Group including representatives from both India and Nepal exchanged the first draft reports on future India-Nepal relations during their seventh meeting in Kathmandu on 24 February 2018. It is likely that they will produce one joint final report during the next meeting in New Delhi that will be submitted to both governments before the group’s term expires in July.

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Tags: Connectivity, India, Nepal, Cooperation, Energy, Hydropower

February 2018

Bhutan, India Mark 50 Years of Bilateral Ties

The 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Bhutan and India is an occasion to reflect on further advancing ties between the two countries, said Ms. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs, India. India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner and the two countries cooperate in the fields of transport and hydroelectric power.

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Tags: Bhutan, India, Cooperation, Hydropower, Trade, Energy

February 2018

Electricity Transmission in India Could Help Bangladesh Tap Nepal's Hydropower

Bangladesh's interest to harness Nepal's hydropower potential could be a win-win for both countries, with India playing the role of catalyst, shared Mr. Mostofa Sohrab Chowdhury, President, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bangladesh's projected additional energy demand is 21,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030, while Nepal's untapped economically feasible hydropower potential is 42,000 MW.

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Tags: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Cooperation, Energy, Hydropower, Transmission

February 2018

Commentary: The Missing Link

Deep integration is needed to generate economic growth in South Asia. By integrating trade in goods and services and transport facilities, South Asian countries will be able to better participate in global trade.

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Tags: Cooperation, South Asia, Trade, Transport, Economy

April 2017

Connectivity Needed for BIMSTEC to Succeed

The BIMSTEC region hosts 21% of the world’s population and holds great potential for trade. Experts at the Conference on Facilitating Connectivity in Bay of Bengal Region held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, stressed the importance of regional connectivity for BIMSTEC to succeed and to facilitate economic growth among BIMSTEC member countries.

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Tags: BIMSTEC, ASEAN, SAARC, Regional Cooperation, Cooperation, Bangladesh

February 2017

ADB to Back Bangladesh Road Connectivity and Energy Trade

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to assist Bangladesh in its efforts to improve transport and energy connectivity. Mr. Wencai Zhang, Vice President, ADB, affirmed that ADB will continue to support Bangladesh in its goal of becoming a developed country by 2041, as well as in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and minimizing climate change impact.

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Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, BBIN, Cooperation, Development, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Energy, Investment, Nepal

July 2016

Harmonize Customs Duties for BBIN Success

BBIN Business Forum states that Customs duties and taxation must be harmonized in order to improve trade among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal. Following the successful signing of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (BBIN MVA), the countries must now pursue ways to make the movement of goods and people easier.

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Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Cooperation

June 2016

Bangladesh Prime Minister: Good Ties with Neighbors, Connectivity to Boost Trade

Good relations, regional connectivity, and cooperation among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) countries boost trade and business in South Asia, said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 18 June 2016.

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Tags: Cooperation, Bangladesh, Trade, BBIN

April 2016

India Approves MoU on Technical Cooperation with Bhutan

The Governments of Bhutan and India are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation in the field of capacity building, benchmarking and bilateral exchange in infrastructure engineering, following approval of the Government of India in a meeting chaired by India Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The MoU will provide an umbrella for educational, scientific and technical research and environment protection.

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Tags: India, Bhutan, Infrastructure, Cooperation, Environment