New economic corridor with huge potential

Central Asia represents a unique centre of vast natural resources. A new economic corridor is under construction connecting Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent via Afghanistan-Iran-India route. The corridor will pass through roadway networks from Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran to the Chabahar Port (Iran) and then connect via a maritime route to western ports of India. This will be connected to the Eastern corridor of India that also links Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Currently highway construction is in progress linking north-eastern India to Thailand via Myanmar and Bangladesh connecting SAARC and ASEAN economic zones. If Central Asia could be linked to this eastern corridor, it could easily facilitate vast flow of trade and commerce from Central Asia to Southeast Asia. If the proposed corridor materialises, then in the long-run this zone could be used for trade with EU through Turkey. Hence, there is huge socio-economic potential for Asia and Bangladesh to capitalise on. This economic corridor and the freight passing through Bangladesh could prove to be a big economic boost for the regional economy that could transform the quality of life for millions of Bangladeshis. 

Saikat Kumar Basu    
Lethbridge, Canada