At the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Kathmandu this week, connectivity was certainly on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda.In fact, the issue of connectivity—ports, river channels, highways, railways, pipelines, and telecommunication cables—has gained global momentum this month. It was a major part of the discussions at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing, as well as at the G20 Summit in Brisbane, both held earlier in November.
China has been at the forefront of the regional connectivity drive. It has been putting together finance mechanisms to keep routes viable, and upgrading its domestic infrastructure. In 2012, the country’s National Development and Reform Commission announced 45 infrastructure projects—including ports, river channels, highways, and railways.