The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program has gone from strength to strength since it was established in 2001. The Program is now exploring several refinements to respond to emerging subregional challenges and opportunities. The Virtual Meeting of the SASEC Nodal Officials held in June 2022 endorsed proposed refinements and agreed to continue discussions on their implementation. These refinements include the following: (i) strengthening SASEC’s institutional mechanisms to establish a subregional architecture led by SASEC member countries; (ii) strategic reorientation of the SASEC Vision; and (iii) implementation of new initiatives.

On 19 August 2022, the Webinar on Charting Future Pathways for SASEC: Lessons and Best Practices from GMS and CAREC provided timely information for SASEC, including (i) identifying lessons learned and best practices from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) in strategic orientation, operations, and institutional coordination; (ii) exploring operational approaches and institutional arrangements from GMS and CAREC that could be adapted or replicated by SASEC; and (iii) identifying opportunities for inter-departmental and inter-subregional exchange of knowledge and expertise.

Ms. Lyaziza Sabyrova, Director, Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division, Central and West Asia Department, ADB, discussed CAREC 2030 Strategic Framework and Operational Clusters. Ms. Pinsuda Alexander, Economist, Regional Cooperation and Coordination Division, Southeast Asia Department, ADB, provided an overview of the GMS Strategic Framework 2030.

Mr. Kenichi Yokoyama, Director General, South Asia Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Executive Director, ADB, opened the webinar. Mr. Manmohan Prakash, Deputy Director General, South Asia Department, ADB, closed the session, highlighting opportunities for future interregional knowledge sharing.

Seventy-nine government officials from SASEC countries and ADB staff joined the webinar.