Regional integration in South Asia : trends, challenges and propsects

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Razzaque, Mohammad A.

Contributor:

Basnett, Yurendra, Contributor.

Basnett, Yurendra, Editor.

Razzaque, Mohammad A., Contributor.

Razzaque, Mohammad A, Editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Trade blocs--South Asia.

Trade blocs.

South Asia--Economic integration.

South Asia.

South Asia--Economic policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (542 pages)

Place of Publication:

[Place of publication not identified] Commonwealth Secretariat 2014

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This volume presents an objective assessment of trade and economic co-operation among South Asian nations and highlights policy issues to foster regional integration. It presents insightful perspectives on potential new areas of co-operation, emerging challenges, and country-specific views on regional and bilateral trade co-operation issues.

Contents:

Cover

Title

Copyright

Foreword

Contents

List of tables

List of figures

List of boxes

Abbreviations and acronyms

1 Regional Integration in South Asia: An Overview

1.1 Background

1.2 About this volume

1.2.1 Chapters in the volume

1.3 Taking forward South Asian integration: An agenda for immediate action

1.3.1 Harmonise real barriers to trade

1.3.2 Promote regional value chains for goods and services

1.3.3 Create a functional, regional market for services

1.3.4 Leverage investment to deepen regional integration

1.3.5 Prioritise regional co-operation on energy

1.3.6 Prioritise co-operation on regional transport networks

1.3.7 Harmonise bilateral and regional approaches to regional trade

Notes

PART I. LOOKING AT THE HORIZON: POTENTIAL GAINS

2 Has South Asia Benefitted from Growth in India?

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Brief review of existing literature

2.3 Trends in growth rates in India and the rest of South Asia

2.3.1 Trends in growth

2.3.2 Trends in trade

2.4 Are the growth rates linked?

2.4.1 Has India acted as a growth pole for South Asia?

2.5 India's growth linkages with countries in South Asia

2.5.1 The relationship between growth in Bangladesh and India

2.5.2 The relationship between growth in Bhutan and India

2.5.3 The relationship between growth in Nepal and India

2.5.4 The relationship between growth in Pakistan and India

2.5.5 The relationship between growth in Sri Lanka and India

2.6 Conclusions and policy implications

Appendices

Appendix 1 Methodology used

References

3 Assessing Gains from SAFTA

3.1 Introduction

3.2 The pattern of South Asian intra-regional trade

3.3 Potential implications of SAFTA: Review of qualitative and quantitative studies.

3.3.1 Review of the qualitative assessments of the welfare effects of SAFTA

3.3.2 Review of quantitative studies on the welfare effects of SAFTA

3.4 The welfare impact of SAFTA considering improved trade facilitation measures in South Asia

3.5 Conclusion

4 The Cost of Economic Non-Co-operation in South Asia

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Potential impacts of SAFTA on consumer welfare: A quantitative assessment

4.2.1 Assessment of consumer welfare gains: Methodology and product selection

4.2.2 Results on consumer welfare gains

4.2.3 Export opportunities in selected products and trade potential

4.2.4 From minimum to maximum gains

4.3 Perceptions and expectations about regional economic co-operation in South Asia

4.3.1 How SAFTA is compared to alternatives

4.3.2 On the economics and politics of South Asian regionalism

4.3.3 The place of consumer welfare in perceptions on trade impacts

4.3.4 Stakeholder's view on future steps

4.3.5 Overcoming hurdles: Networking is the key

4.4 Conclusions

5 Building Regional Supply Chains in South Asia: The Case of the Textiles and Clothing Sector

5.1 Introduction

5.2 A brief review of the literature

5.3 Methodology for identifying potential supply chains

5.4 Implications on potential supply chains

5.4.1 Participation by countries in potential three-stage and two-stage supply chains

5.5 Policy implications

Note

PART II. KEY AREAS FOR CO-OPERATION

6 Non-tariff Barriers in South Asia: Nature and Modalities to Address the Attendant Issues

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Non-tariff barriers: Concept and typology

6.2.1 Definition of NTBs and their classification

6.2.2 Use of NTBs in international trade

6.3 Non-tariff barriers in South Asia

6.3.1 NTBs constraining intra-SAARC trade.

6.3.2 Connectivity barriers as NTBs

6.3.3 Current state of NTBs in Bangladesh and India

6.3.4 NTBs in South Asia identified by nationally appropriate mitigation action (NAMA) working group

6.4 Cross-country experience in resolving non-tariff barriers

6.4.1 NAFTA dispute settlement (NTB) mechanism

6.4.2 NAMA dispute settlement proposal (NAMA 11)

6.4.3 European Commission dispute settlement proposal

6.5 Dispute settlement mechanisms in SAFTA and its efficacy: SAFTA committee of experts

6.6 Policy initiative to address the NTBs

6.7 Concluding remarks

7 Dealing with Non-tariff Barriers in South Asia

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Significant barriers to trade

7.2.1 Choosing priorities

7.3 Models of non-trade barrier monitoring and trade surveillance

7.3.1 EU approach

7.3.2 ASEAN approach

7.3.3 Potential models of trade surveillance and NTB monitoring mechanisms in South Asia

7.4 Conforming to regulations and standards

7.5 Upgrading producers in meeting standards: Lessons from regional economic communities

7.5.1 The experience of Latin America

7.5.2 The EU

7.5.3 Donor-funded efforts

7.5.4 Upgrading conformity infrastructure in South Asia

7.6 Linking non-trade barrier monitoring and surveillance mechanisms to dispute resolution mechanisms: Lessons from regional economic communities

7.6.1 The rigour of regional dispute settlement

7.6.2 Surveillance and monitoring without enforcement

7.7 Conclusions

8 Regional Investment Co-operation in South Asia

8.1 Background

8.2 Foreign direct investment in South Asia: A brief overview

8.2.1 Intra- and extra-regional trade in South Asia

8.3 An overview on Foreign Direct Investment-related policies of South Asian countries.

8.4 Institutional approach for enhancing regional investment: An analysis of SAARC initiatives

8.5 Experience of ASEAN towards enhancing regional investment: Learning for SAARC

8.6 Suggestions for accelerating SAARC's institutional initiatives for enhancing intra-regional investment in South Asia

8.7 Conclusion

9 Regional Trade in Services in South Asia

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Overview of the services sector in South Asia

9.2.1 Growth in the services sector value added

9.2.2 Contribution to GDP

9.2.3 Contribution to trade

9.2.4 Contribution to employment

9.2.5 Services sector and FDI

9.2.6 Revealed comparative advantage (RCA)

9.2.7 Backward and forward linkages of the services sectors

9.3 Experiences of South Asian countries in General Agreement on Trade in Services negotiations

9.4 Services trade liberalisation negotiations in South Asia

9.5 Domestic preparedness of services trade liberalisation in South Asia

9.6 Concluding remarks

10 Connectivity and Regional Co-operation in South Asia

10.1 Introduction

10.2 An overview of regional connectivity in South Asia

10.2.1 Maritime transport

10.2.2 Air transport

10.2.3 Land transport

10.2.4 Cross-border infrastructure services

10.3 Challenges to regional connectivity

10.3.1 High non-tariff trade costs

10.3.2 Cumbersome cross-border and transit transport facilitation

10.3.3 Procedural complexity, multiple handling and inefficient border corridors

10.3.4 Lack in regional transit

10.4 Vision of an integrated South Asia: The regional co-operation agenda

10.4.1 Multimodal transportation and opening of regional transit

10.4.2 APIBM corridor: Asia's southern silk route

10.4.3 Building a South Asian railway network.

10.4.4 Strengthening inland waterways, ports and shipping, and aviation

10.4.5 Harmonising rules, regulations, and standards

10.4.6 Financing cross-border transport projects

10.4.7 Strengthening co-ordination among countries and stakeholders

10.4.8 Projects to strengthen regional integration

10.5 Conclusions

11 Productive Integration of Least Developed Countries into Regional Supply Chains: The Case of South Asia

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Major constraints to least developed countries' participation in regional supply chains

11.3 Policies and programmes to improve the conditions for the operation of supply chains

11.3.1 Transport and trade facilitation

11.3.2 Resource mobilisation

11.3.3 Directed industrial policy

11.4 South Asian least developed countries in context

11.4.1 Country-level profiles

11.4.2 A regional profile

11.5 Conclusion

Appendix 11.1

12 International Trade, Regional Integration and Food Security in South Asia

12.1 Introduction

12.2 South Asia in a global setting

12.2.1 Socio and agro-economic profile of South Asian countries

12.3 Hunger and nutrition

12.4 Production, consumption and surplus at regional level

12.5 Country-wise production, domestic use and surplus/deficit

12.5.1 Foodgrains

12.5.2 Livestock products

12.5.3 Horticultural products

12.5.4 Sugar

12.5.5 Vegetable oil

12.5.6 Per capita food supply

12.6 International trade at regional and country level

12.6.1 Country-wise trade

12.6.2 India's food export to South Asia and the world

12.7 Price and market integration

12.8 Trade liberalisation: Potential and constraints

12.9 The way forward

13 Promoting Regional Energy Co-operation in South Asia

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Challenges faced by the subregion.

13.2.1 Income and energy poverty.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-84929-122-5

1-84859-914-5

OCLC:

973793229