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South Asia is one of the poorest sub-regions in the world. The majority is concentrated in the eastern region, an area comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, the eastern states of India, and Nepal.
This sub-region presents the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with its greatest challenge in the fight against poverty.
Yet this challenge can be transformed into an opportunity because it has a remarkable combination of potentials:
. Large Workforce: It has a huge pool of hard working and disciplined workers who earn relatively low wages. With investments to develop their skills, this work force could offer the region a major competitive advantage.
. Fertile Rice fields: It has the rice fields of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basins, which constitute one of the largest granaries in the world. With investments to improve agricultural productivity-and efficient water management-- these rice fields can comfortably feed the large workforce of the region at reasonable prices.
. Energy Potential: It has hydropower potential in Nepal and Bhutan, the coal in India's West Bengal and Bihar states, and oil and gas in Bangladesh, India's Assam and Tripura.
. Other Natural Resources: It has rich mineral deposits, forest resources, livestock and marine resources.
. Ports: It has a network of ports in Chittagong, Mongla, Kolkata, and Haldia.
The sub-region is also strategically significant as the gateway linking the whole of South Asia to Southeast Asia and East Asia. It is a vital geopolitical link in the Asian economic community. It is the long-term vision of transforming the sub-region - and its potential role in integration across Asian sub-regions - that underlies ADB's strong commitment in the area.
For more information: www.adb.org/sasec
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