Ms. Ravi Kiran, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, Government of India, and former Infoscion, participated in the Transport Group Meeting held in Kathmandu in December under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) framework, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The meeting brought together senior officials and representatives from SASEC member countries to deliberate on key priorities for strengthening regional transport connectivity and advancing cross-border infrastructure development. Discussions centred on enhancing multimodal transport networks, improving cross-border trade and logistics facilitation, and reinforcing institutional coordination to enable the seamless movement of goods and passengers across the subregion.
A key focus of the deliberations was the alignment of regional transport initiatives with national infrastructure and logistics planning frameworks, including India’s PM GatiShakti programme, to ensure integrated, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure development.
The Transport Group Meeting served as an important platform for policy convergence, exchange of best practices, and the development of coordinated approaches to regional transport planning. Such collaborative efforts are expected to play a crucial role in supporting economic growth, boosting trade competitiveness, and deepening regional integration across South Asia.