PRESS RELEASE

Consultative Workshop on the Preparation of the SAARC Development Report held in Dhaka

A Consultative Workshop on the Preparation of the SAARC Development Report (SDR) was held in Dhaka on 15-16 October 2025 under the theme “Shaping the Future Together for a Resilient SAARC.” The Workshop was hosted by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh with financial and technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Workshop was attended by delegations from the SAARC Member States comprising senior officials of the Ministries/ Agencies responsible for development issues as well as Foreign Ministries.

The Workshop was opened by Ms. Prathma Uprety, Director (Information and Poverty Alleviation) at the SAARC Secretariat, representing the Secretary General of SAARC. In her remarks, she expressed gratitude to the Government of Bangladesh for hosting the Workshop and to the Asian Development Bank for its continued support in advancing regional integration.

Speaking at the opening session, Chief Guest Dr. Monzur Hossain, Member (Secretary) of the Bangladesh Planning Commission, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, underscored the importance of the Workshop in making the SAARC Development Report meaningful and action-oriented. He highlighted that as the world approaches the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the choices made today will determine whether South Asia, home to one-fourth of the global population, can achieve these shared objectives. He emphasized that the SDR should serve not merely as a technical document but as a strategic regional blueprint aligning national ambitions with regional cooperation, identifying both progress and gaps in poverty reduction, inequality, climate resilience, governance, and integration, and providing actionable recommendations for policymakers.

Addressing the opening session, Mr. Dongxiang Li, Lead Regional Cooperation Specialist, Regional Cooperation and Integration Unit, South Asia Department of ADB, reaffirmed ADB’s continued commitment as a longstanding development partner of SAARC.

Delegations from the Member States made presentations on their respective national perspectives and priorities for the preparation of the SAARC Development Report. Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, ADB Consultant, presented the first draft of the SAARC Development Report, which formed the basis for discussions and recommendations during the Workshop.

The Workshop was chaired by Mr. Bidhan Baral, Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Planning Commission of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The Workshop concluded with the adoption of a report.

SAARC Secretariat,

Kathmandu

16 October 2025