Economic Structure and Pattern of Trade Flows in South Asia

This article examines the basic economic background of the seven South Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and India), their growth in imports intra-SAARC, direction and composition of trade in South Asia, and the relative importance of the South Asian trade in the global trade. The trends and patterns of growth in exports and imports in South Asia over the period 1991 to 2005 have been discussed in this article along with trends in intraregional trade. Developed industrial economies are also important suppliers of imports to South Asia and noticeable proportion of imports to the region are sourced from the Middle East.