South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation

The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program brings together Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in a project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, facilitating faster and less costly trade among member countries, and strengthening regional economic cooperation. Since 2001, the Asian Development Bank has inversted more than $5.6 billion through loan and grants to member countries that improve physical infrastructure, support reform processes and build capacity in the three key areas of SASEC---transport, trade facilitation, and energy. SASEC also creates knowledge platforms that promote a regular exchange of information and experience-sharing in the subregion and ensure that international best practices underpin and strengthen the planning of effective regional initiatives. The Asian Development Bank serves as the SASEC Secretariat.