Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Asia the Least Connected Region in World: Zakhilwal

Asia the Least Connected Region in World: Zakhilwal

KABUL - Despite its vast natural resources, Central and South Asia remains the least connected region in the world in terms of trade, the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan has said.
Speaking at a conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal said less than five percent of trade in Central and South Asia was within the region, compared to 70% in Europe.
He noted there was no shortage of forums whose mandate was regional economic integration. He specially referred to ECO, RECCA, Heart of Asia, CAREC, SARRC, etc.
“There is also no shortage of ideas and potential projects: TAPI, CASA, energy, railways, highways, motorways, CPEC, etc. There is no luck of understanding the benefits from connectivity...”
He said there was also a consensus on regional economic interdependence offering hope for a durable peace and stability in the region.
He called for separating economics from politics and giving economics a chance to help politics. “We must make regional connectivity and economic integration a priority of our domestic development agendas.”

Zakhilwal urged international partners to invest in connectivity as part of their security and stability agenda for this region. We should embark on embedding our security objectives in our economic agenda...” (Pajhwok)