SANEM, in collaboration with the USAID
November 2021 to August 2022
About
South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), through the USAID and U.S. Department of State-funded Cross-Border Infrastructure and Connectivity project, has launched a training and capacity-building program titled “Bay of Bengal Regional Trade and Connectivity Capacity Building Program” for the relevant government and non-government stakeholders of this region. The program targeted policymakers and other relevant stakeholders, developing their knowledge and awareness of critical issues of trade and connectivity that can enable o to engage in meaningful dialogue and negotiations with regional partners. It also aims to enhance analytical and negotiating skills to implement trade policy, monitoring, and surveillance.
The trade and connectivity training program is scheduled to be held from November 2021 to August 2022. Coordinated by SANEM, a team of eminent trainers will conduct the capacity-building programs. The training will be conducted over the video conferencing app Zoom.
The Scope and Objective
- Training is focused on infrastructure connectivity and its role in promoting trade and economic integration along key corridors within and across countries in the region. ● Providing training to ministry and trade stakeholders to develop an awareness of trade issues and identify relevant implications, opportunities, costs, and benefits of deeper regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.
- Training will be provided to best equip member countries with the skills needed to undertake specialized trade negotiations
- The training program will complemented by a series of technical studies facilitating evidence-based decision-making for policymakers to set trade negotiation priorities, design strategies to boost competitiveness in export markets, and identify how new trading opportunities can contribute to national commitments on sustainable and inclusive development.
- Successful completion of this project will see significant enhancement skills and capacity of trade officials to understand specific trade and connectivity issues, develop new or refine existing strategies, and have the flexibility to prepare for and negotiate key future trade agreements based on the country’s particular needs. The training outcomes are expected to have cross-cutting impacts on increasing awareness of gender and the disadvantaged communities, eco-sensitivity, and other economic multipliers.
Training Programs
(November 2021) Trade Policy, industrial policy and Trade Analysis Skills
(February 2022) Infrastructure connectivity
(March 2022) Regional and bilateral trade agreements
(May 2022) International trade data and information analysis
(June 2022) Advanced trade policy analysis techniques
(July 2022) Expert trade analysis with the simulation of alternative scenarios (August 2022) Trade negotiations
Trainers
Dr Selim Raihan Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka and Executive Director, SANEM, Bangladesh
Dr Nihal Pitigala Lead Economist, Washington Business Dynamics and Senior Fellow, InReach Global and World Bank
Dr Prabir De Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Coordinator of ASEAN-India Centre (AIC), RIS, India
Dr Ganeshan Wignaraja Senior Research Associate, Overseas Institute (ODI), London and Member of the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee, Central
Bank of Sri Lanka
Dr Pralok Gupta Policy Leader Fellow, School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute, Florence, Italy
Dr Ruth Banomyong Professor, Department of International Business, Logistics and Transport, Thammasat University, Thailand
Dr Jay Bandaralage Professor, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
Dr Athula Naranpanawa Senior Lecturer, Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
Ms Mitali Nikore Economist (Consultant), Transport and Logistics, World Bank, and Development Economist (consultant), Asian Development Bank
Dr Rajan Sudesh Ratna Deputy Head and Senior Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations ESCAP South and South-West Asia Office