This Monthly Research Meeting focuses on how regional dynamics interact with domestic competitiveness. The opening paper reviews strategic shifts across South Asia and the wider Indo Pacific, with attention to supply chains, connectivity corridors, and maritime safety. It lists practical cooperation tracks that can deliver mutual gains in trade facilitation, standards alignment, and academic exchange. The second paper looks inward at firm level competitiveness in Bangladesh. It uses simple benchmarks on productivity, energy intensity, logistics delays, and quality compliance to identify bottlenecks that limit export growth. The authors propose a few targeted adjustments that can yield outsized benefits, including better last mile logistics, fewer forms and visits for routine approvals, and expanded testing capacity. The discussion segment invites participants to map where government can act directly and where partnership with industry is essential. The session also stresses the value of steady measurement so that improvements are visible to investors and citizens. A short annex provides templates for corridor project tracking and a checklist for factory upgrade planning. The overall message is practical: keep reforms focused, measure what matters, and maintain open lines with stakeholders to sustain momentum.
