Strengthening Trade along the Dhaka–Kolkata Route


Book Description

The economies of Bangladesh and India are driven by fast-growing bilateral trade. The efficient movement of goods between the two countries is essential to their economic growth. However, inefficient procedures at land crossings, paired with infrastructure constraints on both sides of the border, inflate the time and costs of conducting trade. This study examines some of the key bottlenecks to trade on land between Dhaka and Kolkata, and provides recommendations on how to address them. Reducing traffic congestion along the major routes, and improving facilities and clearance procedures at the border crossings can significantly improve trade between Bangladesh and India, and contribute to more robust economic growth across the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation zone as a whole.







Integrated Approach to Trade and Transport Facilitation


Book Description

To promote smoother flows of goods across borders while reducing trade costs, this report explores an integrated approach to facilitating trade and transport across Asia and the Pacific, for better engagement in value chains. The report examines the current state of trade and transport facilitation, analyzes gaps in the available guidance, and provides strategic recommendations. It includes a framework for the assessment of trade readiness at national and subnational levels and illustrates its implementation through case studies of Cambodia and Thailand. The report aims to help governments boost the region's recovery from COVID-19 disruption by making cross-border trading and transport arrangements more efficient and more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable.




Strengthening Sustainable Digitalization of Asian Economy and Society


Book Description

In the ongoing evolution of Asia's economy and society, there is a crucial need to explore innovative conceptual frameworks, empirical studies, and case analyses. These endeavors aim to unravel the intricate relationship between digital transformation and the imperative for fostering a greener, more circular, and climate-neutral Asian economy. Strengthening Sustainable Digitalization of Asian Economy and Society explores the intersection between digital technologies, knowledge management, and sustainable development. The book addresses the challenges and opportunities the digital age poses, examining how advanced information technologies, including artificial intelligence, IoT, and machine learning, coupled with practical knowledge management, can catalyze a transformative journey. Strengthening Sustainable Digitalization of Asian Economy and Society unravels how these digital tools and solutions impact the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, offering invaluable insights for academics, researchers, industry players, policymakers, and stakeholders. This book emphasizes the ASEAN region, providing an understanding of the regional nuances in the digital transition by presenting comparative regional studies, including Asia, Europe, the USA, Latin America, Africa, and the Gulf Region.




Conflicting Identities


Book Description

In the era of globalization, regionalism aims at a practical compromise between global governance and national aspirations. Attempts have been made by states, in varying degrees, to advance cooperation towards mutual benefit in different parts of the world. However, the very process of regional cooperation in a defined geographical area adopts unique ways and special characters to accommodate the particularities of the region and does not lead to similar consequences when compared with the processes in motion in other areas. This volume is the culmination of the brainstorming exercise of a National Seminar on ‘Asian Regionalism in the Twenty First Century’ at the Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. The task is to fulfil two main objectives: to join the debate on the efficacy of regionalism today and make a meaningful contribution to an understanding of the subject; and also to suggest ways of tiding over the problems faced by the countries in various regions or sub-regions of the Asian continent in their attempts to advance towards the goal of regional cooperation and integration. The essays in this book are envisioned to benefit not only a wide community of scholars involved in teaching and research in general and the students of international relations in particular but would also be of interest to any avid reader who intends to explore the patterns of contemporary world politics. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka




Trade and Regional Integration in South Asia


Book Description

Gathering contributions from leading academics and international trade experts from South Asia, this book is dedicated to the late Dr. Saman Kelegma, whose untimely death in June 2017 left a huge void in the field of regional economic cooperation. Keeping in mind his enduring legacy regarding regional cooperation in South Asia, it covers issues related to the challenges of deeper regional integration in South Asia and proposes strategies to address these challenges. It also offers an up-to-date, rigorous academic analysis of various issues related to low intra-regional trade in South Asia; prevalence of tariff barriers; incidence of a range of non-tariff measures; challenges of weak-trade-related infrastructure and the need for trade facilitation; the political economics of regional integration, highlighting how bilateral political relations affect the integration process; low level of intra-regional investment; South Asia’s pattern of integration with the global and regional value chains; pattern and dominance of informal trade; and alternative regional integration initiatives in South Asia, such as the bilateral, regional, and sub-regional trade agreements within and countries outside this region. Intended primarily for researchers and students of international trade, and policymakers from South Asia and beyond, the book is also a valuable supplementary reference resource for researchers and students. Furthermore, the pragmatic analysis of the policy options presented offers guidance for policymakers in South Asia wanting to implement effective policies and strategies for deeper regional integration.




The Belt and Road Initiative


Book Description

This book studies the geopolitical and geoeconomic aspects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It argues that the BRI has the potential to redesign the spatial and territorial dimensions of governance and effectively counterbalance the hitherto predominant hegemonies of the Anglo-American sea power. The volume: Highlights the main geopolitical patterns, including geographical, economic, financial, technological, and strategic factors guiding the BRI on a global scale Presents a historical account of the development of the Silk Road and underlines its contemporary relevance Traces China’s growing inf luence from Eurasia to America Discusses how the Initiative is likely to transform international relations by the middle of the 21st century. A comprehensive guide to China’s rise as the new centre of gravity in global geopolitics, the book will be indispensable for students of political studies, geopolitics, international relations, and foreign policy. It will also be useful for policymakers, strategic investors, think tanks, and government officials.




Asian Economic Integration Report 2019/2020


Book Description

The Asian Economic Integration Report is an annual review of economic cooperation and integration that covers the 49 members of ADB in Asia and the Pacific. It documents progress made in trade and global value chains, cross-border investment, financial integration, the movement of people, and subregional cooperation. The theme chapter of this year’s report explores the potential of technology to boost productivity in aging economies. It also discusses how innovations can help turn demographic challenges into opportunities.




India and Global Governance


Book Description

This volume explores India’s role in the global governance architecture post–Cold War. It shows how, with a rise in India’s capabilities, there is an expectation from its external interlocutors that New Delhi ought to play a larger global role. As Indian policymakers redefine their engagements in the global policy matrix, the chapters in the volume analyse India’s role as a challenger and a stakeholder in world politics; its uneasy relationship with Western liberal democracies; and its role in shaping new structures of global governance. The volume focuses on a host of critical issues, including nuclear policy, climate action politics, India’s bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, humanitarian interventions, trade governance, democracy promotion, India’s engagement with other emerging powers in platforms such as the BRICS, the changing dynamics with its neighbours, and maritime governance. A timely reimagining of global politics, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of politics and international relations, climate change, military and strategic studies, economics, and South Asian studies.




International Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative


Book Description

International Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative investigates the most significant global‐scale international trade expansion and capital investment programme since the Second World War. This book focusses on the multi-national perspectives of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in order to interrogate the Chinese government’s representation of it as a symbol of "peace, cooperation, development and mutual benefit." With specific focus on the interrelationship between geopolitics, infrastructure investments and urban regional development, the book reflects on 12 countries’ experiences in depth, including those of Iran, Pakistan, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and Ethiopia, specificly to their economic development levels, political systems, power dynamics and socio-environmental issues. The book clarifies and contributes new knowledge on the nature of BRI concerning its relationship to globalism, neo-colonialism, the notion of developed vs developing countries and their institutions and macro-micro benefits and impacts. In doing so, the book offers a balanced account of the antagonistic geo-political narrative of socio-political conflict and the collaborative framework of real socio-economic flows and development. The book will appeal to academics, researchers and policy-makers with an interest in the BRI and its impacts on politico-economic development and urban, regional and spatial systems in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.