This book offers a comprehensive look at the business environment in South Asia, particularly Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It explores the historical, economic, social and political impacts of trade and commerce in this region to give insight into how it has learned the lessons of failure from the past and is poised to capitalize on them. Bangladesh is considered an Emerging Tiger as one of the fastest-growing economies in South Asia, having witnessed exponential growth in exports. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is still recovering from its civil war and FDI makes up a very small percentage of its GDP. Nevertheless, it also represents a unique opportunity for investors looking to do business in this growing region. Identifying the key drivers of South Asian economic growth and development, this book is aimed at scholars who seek to learn more about what must be done to take advantage of the opportunities in both countries to move into the future.

Seventeen in a series of annual reports comparing business regulation in 190 economies, Doing Business 2020 measures aspects of regulation affecting 10 areas of everyday business activity.

Proposes practical policy interventions in improving business environment by targeting three South Asian countries namely Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka and facilitating SMEs access to global and regional markets, especially through global values chains (GVCs).

The general perception of the garment and textile industry in the global South is fueled only by images of dismal labor conditions and unsuitable factories, descriptions of labor clashes with police, and analyses of low wages and exploitative multinational corporations. This book presents an insightful perspective on the garment and textiles industries in Asia by highlighting that an industry fraught with competing concerns can, in fact, collaborate and work together when it is in the interest of both the state and interest groups to do so. This comparative study recognizes the role of both the state and interest groups in the policy making process and argues that they are interlinked and require one another for sustainable reforms. Employing original, in-depth research in three different countries, the study skillfully delves down deep beyond the macro statistics and commonly held images to cast light on some of the significant policy and attitudinal shifts that have occurred in this industry. It demonstrates that even though the struggle continues, it is important to recognize the improvements thus far and to work towards positive change. This book also takes a much larger historical view of the sector, arguing that manipulation of the trading regime has created and continues to create both incentives and disincentives for the various stakeholders involved in this industry. This book is is essential for students and researchers in policy studies, labor studies, South and Southeast Asian studies, international trade, and political science, as well as those engaged in program design and evaluation of projects focused on labor rights. This study is also critical for non-governmental organizations with a thematic focus on the garments and textiles industry, labor rights, human rights, and international trade policy, as well as for private sector organizations focused on improving labor conditions around the world. More information at http://www.cambriapress.com/books/9781604978780.cfm

Pakistan: Doing Business, Investing in Pakistan Guide - Practical Information, Regulations, Contacts

Sri Lanka achieved middle-income-country status in January 2010, on the strenght of of the economic growth fueled by the liberalization policy introduced in the late 1970s and pursued albeit unevenly in the following years. To continue growing, however, Sri Lanka needs to pay attention to its much neglected infrastructure. Accordingly, this report, aims to provide policy makers in Sri Lanka with a sound analytical basis for prioritizing investments and designing policy interventions that result in the mobilization of funds and their effective use for future development of Sri Lanka’s infrastructure, and also to improve understanding of the infrastructure sectors in Sri Lanka, including their current state and performance, future development needs, investment requirements and financing gaps, and bottlenecks to infrastructure development. The report assesses the country’s infrastructure endowment and performance, analyzes the contribution of infrastructure to economic and spatial development, and outlines investment needs and strategic priorities within those established by the Mahinda Chintana. It provides a cross-sectoral analysis of the major infrastructure cross-cutting themes including the link between infrastructure and poverty reduction and economic growth; the institutional and regulatory framework; the main issues regarding planning, coordination, and financing; and the role and constraints of private sector participation in infrastructure financing and service provision. It identifies bottlenecks to economic growth and considers policy issues to address them.