Despite infrastructure development and connectivity plans, South Asia remains the least integrated region globally.
According to media reports, this was underlined by Cecile Fruman, Director, Regional Integration and Engagement in the South Asia Region (SAR), World Bank, according to whom for a truck to move across the border from India to Bangladesh, it takes around 138 hours, 55 signatures and 22 documents.
“In many ways, South Asia is not well integrated; this is a region which is not well integrated in terms of connectivity,” reportedly, claimed Cecile who went on to add signing of the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) framework is key to achieving seamless connectivity in the region.
She further, reportedly, added greater integration and seamless connectivity could see trade increase by an estimated US $ 44 billion.
