South Asia

CLDP engages in a variety of technical assistance programs throughout South Asia, and is currently operating in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. CLDP’s work in South Asia aims to advance economic development by enhancing the legal environment for commerce. CLDP partners with governments and the private sector in South Asia to support sustainable and transparent reform and enforcement of commercial law and economic policy, which creates greater opportunity for domestic and foreign trade and investment, encourages the expansion of private businesses and job creation, and helps level the competitive playing field.

CLDP is also engaged in South Asia in support of three government-wide initiatives to help meet the region’s critically important need for high quality infrastructure.

Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network (ITAN); which aims to streamline and strategically deploy US government tools that promote private sector investment in infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific in a comprehensive and cohesive manner.
Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP); which aims to improve partner countries’ digital connectivity, establish public-private partnerships to build digital infrastructure, and improve partner countries’ cybersecurity and regulatory policies.
Asia Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy (AsiaEDGE); which aims to strengthen energy security and promote energy access across the Indo-Pacific.

CLDP's efforts help build the lndo-Pacific region's capacity to attract high quality investors and developers, procure sustainable high-standard infrastructure, and reach financial close on projects.

Learn more about CLDP's results in Asia and South Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Goal: (1) To assist the Government of Afghanistan with legal and economic reforms aimed at spurring economic growth; (2) To Improving Food Safety and Trade in Afghanistan through enhanced Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Systems, and support for the Agri-Business industry and exports.

Program Areas:

Mining
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
WTO Compliance
Customs Regulation
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Sanitation and Phyto-sanitation (SPS)
Intellectual Property

BANGLADESH

Goal: CLDP has been working with the government of Bangladesh to develop transparent legal and procedural frameworks to enhance economic growth, including Information and Communication Technology (ICT), as well as other complex infrastructure projects that are part of the Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network (ITAN). CLDP has also provided assistance to the Government of Bangladesh on liquified natural gas (LNG) regulations and contracts.

Program Areas:

Public-Private Partnerships
Advanced Contract Terms
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

INDIA

Goal: CLDP works to assist the Government of India with legal and economic reforms in support of economic growth, including programs relating to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and increasing regional trade.

Program Areas:

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Customs Regulation

THE MALDIVES

Goal: CLDP has been working with the government of the Maldives to establish predictable and transparent commercial regulations and high-caliber contracts in pursuit of greater business opportunities and increased economic integration. As part of the Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network (ITAN), CLDP has been working with the government of the Maldives to develop transparent legal and procedural frameworks to oversee complex infrastructure projects.

Program Areas:

Procurement
Contract Law
Unsolicited Proposals
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

NEPAL

Goal: Goal: With a focus on Public-Private Partnerships, CLDP has been working with the government of Nepal to develop transparent legal and procedural frameworks to oversee complex infrastructure projects as part of the Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network (ITAN). CLDP also supports Nepal in creating an enabling environment for increased connectivity through the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP).

Program Areas:

Public-Private Partnerships
Power Procurement
Regional Land Use
Advanced Contract Terms
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

PAKISTAN

Goal: CLDP assists the Government of Pakistan (GOP) and other key stakeholders in improving the legal, regulatory, trade and business environments in Pakistan by implementing specific activities such as training GOP staff and Pakistani private sector entities in technology incubation, technology transfer, intellectual property (IP) rights, commercialization of innovation, continuing legal education (CLE), commercial law, trade and transit facilitation through customs and trade policy reform, promoting the business enabling environment for small and medium enterprises, training in best practices for doing business, and expanding opportunities to enhance trade and investment ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Promoting gender equality and female empowerment is a cross-cutting theme throughout CLDP programming in Pakistan.

Program Areas:

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Intellectual Property
Continuing Legal Education
Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Entrepreneurship
Transit and Regional Integration
Trade Facilitation
Customs Reform and Coordination
Energy
Women's Global Development Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP)

SRI LANKA

Goal: CLDP works with the Government of Sri Lanka to improve their commercial, legal, and regulatory framework, with the goal of increasing opportunity for domestic and foreign trade and investment, in pursuit of economic development. As part of the Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network (ITAN), CLDP has been working with the government of Sri Lanka to develop transparent legal and procedural frameworks to oversee complex infrastructure projects.