This urban development sector assessment, strategy, and road map documents the strategic investment priorities of the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It identifies the three priority areas: (i) strengthening of urban, regional, and...

Bhutan, in 2040, will be very different from what it is today. The transport system then needs to respond to the changing needs and demands. The Transport Integrated Strategic Vision 2040 incorporates all existing transport related plans, policies, initiatives, and actions to create a long-term...

Guided by its philosophy of gross national happiness, Bhutan achieved strong growth during 1981–2011, and its per capita gross domestic product more than quintupled, with hydropower as the main growth driver. The government’s conscious efforts to invest in socioeconomic programs have helped...

This publication documents the proceedings of the South Asia Conference on Environmental Justice, held last 24–25 March 2012 at Bhurban, Pakistan. The conference brought together chief justices, senior members of the judiciary, and other legal stakeholders in South Asia, to highlight...

Aid for Trade (AfT) came to prominence just over a decade ago at the launch of the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round. With its focus on helping least developed countries and economies escape the poverty trap, it aims to strengthen their capabilities to meet market demand and to reduce...

The globalisation of capital markets has encouraged moves toward regional harmonization and integration. This report examines and compares the level of development of capital markets in the South Asian region, assesses the prospects for greater harmonization and integration, and proposes a set...

The question underlying the entirety of this publication is: “How can viable economic corridors be called into existence by dint of government and multilateral support?” The authors answer this question by examining the experience of economic corridor development of different regions from...

The Bhutan Living Standards Survey (BLSS) 2012 Report summarizes the results of the household survey undertaken by the National Statistics Bureau with the Asian Development Bank capacity development technical assistance Third Bhutan Living Standards Survey. The report presents the analysis on...

In March 2012, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held the Subregional Workshop on Gender and Urban Poverty in South Asia to share experiences and enhance lateral learning among ADB and its project partners on addressing gender and social inclusion issues in urban development projects in...