Strengthening regional connectivity is essential to support supply chain transformation, economic integration, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific.
Physical infrastructure investments alone are insufficient to deliver efficient, resilient, and competitive transport corridors. Performance of cross-border movement depends on how infrastructure interacts with institutional arrangements, economic structures, supply chain organization, and trade regimes, particularly where supply chains span multiple subregions. Recent crises including COVID-19 and ongoing geopolitical tensions have exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. The Asian Development Bank's 2025 study assesses inter-subregional connectivity and identifies gaps in policies, standards, and infrastructure.
This session will explore how the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC), Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), and South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)programs are advancing connectivity, strengthening resilience, and enabling more integrated and reliable supply chains across Asia and the Pacific.
By the end of the session, participants will:
- Gain shared understanding of inter-subregional challenges and opportunities with a clear overview of connectivity gaps across Asia and the Pacific.
- Learn consolidated lessons from regional cooperation platforms including key takeaways from CAREC, GMS, and SASEC corridors.
- Identify priority actions to strengthen resilience and improve supply chain integration.
- Develop recommendations for strengthening inter-subregional coordination and investment in transport connectivity.
Chen Chen Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Max Ee, SCMi Group LLP
Lei Lei Song, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Charymuhammet Shallyyev, CAREC
Salome Tsurtsumia, Ministry of Infrastructure (Georgia)
Amphayvanh Keopadith, Minister of Public Works and Transport (Lao PDR)
Md. Wailur Rahman, Road Transport and Highways Division (Bangladesh)
Katrin Luger, UNESCAP