Sikkim’s Chief Economic Advisor, Professor Mahendra P Lama, has unveiled an ambitious plan aimed at transforming the trade and transport landscape across Eastern South Asia. Speaking at a policy forum in Gangtok on April 8, Professor Lama emphasized the urgent need to address decades of neglect in cross-border connectivity. He identified poor infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles, and lack of coordinated regional planning as primary obstacles hampering economic integration in the subregion.
Professor Lama pointed out that while the countries of Eastern South Asia share deep historical, cultural, and geographical ties, their economic exchanges remain alarmingly low. He called this disconnection both “a failure of political imagination” and “a missed opportunity” for millions living in borderland economies. According to him, the region includes some of the fastest-growing states and provinces in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, all of which could benefit from better linkages in transport, logistics, and trade facilitation.
During his presentation, he revealed that his office had developed a detailed blueprint that proposes the creation of multi-modal economic corridors. These would incorporate roads, railways, inland waterways, and digital infrastructure. Professor Lama underlined the necessity of transforming border check-posts into trade and tourism-friendly hubs rather than high-security zones that create delays and mistrust.
He also spoke about how his proposed blueprint draws from existing regional frameworks, such as the South Asian Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). He said these initiatives have laid useful groundwork, but stressed that they lack the on-ground momentum and political will to implement impactful changes at the local level.
The blueprint identifies strategic border towns like Phuentsholing, Panitanki, Raxaul, Siliguri, and Moreh as focal points of transformation. Professor Lama suggested that these places should not just serve as gateways but also as thriving urban clusters that generate employment and support entrepreneurship. He emphasized that development in these towns must go hand-in-hand with ecological sustainability and disaster preparedness, given the region’s vulnerability to climate change and seismic activity.
He urged states in India’s Northeast to collaborate directly with neighboring countries through state-level diplomacy and twin-city agreements. He cited examples of successful cross-border trade zones elsewhere in Asia and said Sikkim could lead the way in replicating such models on India’s eastern frontier. His speech received warm applause from government officials, economists, and regional planners in attendance.
Professor Lama also criticized existing policy bottlenecks that force traders and transporters to take long and expensive detours due to a lack of integrated customs procedures and poor last-mile connectivity. He called on national governments to prioritize trade facilitation and reduce red tape, especially for small and medium enterprises. He added that simplifying visa and permit systems for businesspeople and truck operators would create a huge difference in borderland economies.
He also proposed the launch of a “Trans-Himalayan Economic Corridor” which could serve as a critical link between India and the ASEAN region. According to him, this corridor could help reduce the overdependence on ports in Western India by boosting land-based trade through Bangladesh and Myanmar. He urged the Indian government to treat the eastern borders not as peripheries, but as vital links in the country’s economic future.
In closing, Professor Lama stressed that the economic transformation of Eastern South Asia will require not just infrastructure, but also trust, mutual respect, and long-term vision. He expressed hope that the blueprint would become a living document that evolves with regional dialogue and cooperation. He committed to working with both national and international stakeholders to make the vision a reality.
As Sikkim charts its future role as a regional connector, Professor Lama’s blueprint sets the stage for what could become a defining chapter in the reintegration of Eastern South Asia.
Professor Lama also emphasized the critical role of educational and research institutions in driving the success of regional connectivity. He proposed the establishment of a cross-border research consortium that would include universities from India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. This consortium would focus on trade analytics, policy studies, and infrastructure planning tailored to the eastern South Asian context. He believed that such collaborative knowledge platforms could guide policymakers with real-time data and recommendations.
He stressed the need to integrate women and youth into the evolving economic framework. According to him, any plan for trade and transport must account for skill development, job creation, and financial inclusion among border communities. He said that economic corridors cannot succeed without empowering local populations, especially those historically excluded from formal economic structures. Professor Lama proposed community-based training centers in logistics, tourism, and language interpretation to equip residents with relevant skills.
Another pressing issue he addressed involved the often-overlooked soft infrastructure, such as harmonized laws, digital customs platforms, and interoperable transport permits. He argued that without aligning regulatory frameworks, even the best physical infrastructure would fail to generate real impact. To resolve this, he recommended the creation of a regional trade facilitation council with representatives from participating countries and Indian border states.
He also called for the revival and strengthening of traditional trade routes that pre-date modern national boundaries. He noted that many of these routes still hold cultural and economic significance, particularly for indigenous and tribal communities living along the frontiers. By integrating these routes into formal trade networks, he said the region could restore old relationships and foster new opportunities.
Highlighting the growing importance of environmental governance, Professor Lama urged governments to consider green logistics and carbon-neutral transport systems in all planning stages. He proposed the inclusion of electric vehicles, solar-powered warehouses, and climate-resilient infrastructure in new trade corridor designs. According to him, the Eastern Himalayan ecosystem demands that development and conservation go hand in hand.
He also pointed to the role of private investors and startups in accelerating this transformation. Professor Lama mentioned that if proper incentives and risk-sharing frameworks are introduced, entrepreneurs could innovate solutions in areas like last-mile delivery, warehouse management, and real-time goods tracking. He emphasized the need for public-private partnerships that could bring in both technology and capital.
The blueprint has started to attract attention beyond Sikkim. Policy experts from other northeastern states and institutions across the border have expressed interest in reviewing and contributing to the plan. Professor Lama has already scheduled follow-up meetings with trade officials in Bangladesh and Bhutan and plans to visit Nepal later this month to present key aspects of the strategy.
As the region contemplates its future amid shifting geopolitical and economic realities, Sikkim’s proactive stance offers a glimpse of how local vision can shape international discourse. Professor Lama’s comprehensive plan signals a shift from viewing borders as divisions to treating them as zones of opportunity and cooperation.