Abstract
South Asia’s Path to Resilient Growth highlights the remarkable development progress in South Asia and how the region can advance in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Steps include a renewed push toward greater trade and financial openness, while responding proactively to the distributional impact and dislocation associated with this structural transformation. Promoting a green and digital recovery remains important. The book explores ways to accelerate the income convergence process in the region, leveraging on the still-large potential demographic dividend in most of the countries. These include greater economic diversification and export sophistication, trade and foreign direct investment liberalization and participation in global value chains amid shifting regional and global conditions, financial development, and investment in human capital.
1. Prior to the pandemic, Bhutan had made significant strides in improving per capita income and reducing poverty, qualifying for its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2023. Looking ahead, Bhutan faces the challenges of diversifying the economy, while facing continued uncertainty about the future path of the pandemic and minimizing any persistent impact.