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The Meeting of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Transport Working Group (SASEC TWG) was held on 9-11 September 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The meeting discussed the baseline for the results framework for the SASEC Sector Strategy 2035 – Transport Operational Priority (SST 2035) as well as knowledge works relevant for regional cooperation for Transport Operational Priority. The meeting discussed prospects and way forward for regional cooperation in the transport sector in the SASEC countries, covering road, rail, inland waterway, civil aviation and maritime; and agreed to support creation of Highly Facilitated Trade Corridors. The meeting also reviewed and endorsed the Action Plan for SASEC Initiatives (APSI) 2026-2028 and discussed updating it for 2027-2029.

Mr. D.M.K.S. Dissanayake, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Transport Highways and Urban Development, chaired the meeting. The meeting was cochaired by Mr. Dong-Kyu Lee, Director, Transport Sector Office, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Mr. Joonho Hwang, Director (Energy), ADB, and incoming Head of the Regional Cooperation and Integration unit at ADB’s South Asia Regional Cooperation, South Asia Regional Department. The meeting was moderated by Mr. Nilaya Mitash, Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist.

Transport and other government officials from SASEC countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—attended the meeting, as well as staff and consultants from ADB.