Michael G. Plummer, Peter J. Morgan & GaneshanWignaraja (eds), Connecting Asia: Infrastructure for Integrating South and Southeast Asia

Abstract. The recent rise in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) across the globe can be explained by the growing depth of intra-regional international production networks (IPNs) connecting firms across borders, slow progress of WTO negotiations under the Doha Round, among others. The upcoming RTAs, through granting of preferential tariff to partnersand introduction of trade facilitation measures including mutual recognition of standards and customs cooperation agreements, promote trade both in intermediate and final products. Intra-regional trade is increasingly taking place through multi-modal forms of transport, and ensuring seamless connectivity successfully complements the trade policy reforms.Keywords. Economic Integration, Economic infrastructure, Infrastructure development, South Asia economies, Southeast Asia economies.JEL. F15, F36, N00, N10, N20, O53