Scope of Digital Trade Integration for Pakistan and Central Asian States: An Action Plan

Scope of Digital Trade Integration for Pakistan and Central Asian States: An Action Plan

Start date: February 2023

End date: November 2023

Project focal person: Asif Javed

Donor/Funding agency: CAREC Institute

Locale: Islamabad

Project team members: Dr. Vaqar Ahmed, Asif Javed, Maaz Javed

Team lead: Dr. Vaqar Ahmed

Research theme: Digital trade

Unit: Economic Growth Focal person email: asifjaved@sdpi.org

Program/project rational and background:

Countries around the world have been actively engaged in establishing new and progressive bilateral and regional trade agreements to boost trade and economic growth. The significance of digital trade has increased considerably after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Digital trade integration is required to be achieved through utilizing the existing as well as upcoming trade agreements. Government policies can hamper digital trade due to differences in regulatory frameworks. Such policies and regulations restrictions limit the cross-border flow of digital goods, services, and data. It diminishes the potential gains for SMEs that can be achieved through incorporating digital trade related provisions in RTAs.

This research will be helpful, for public representatives, SMEs, think tanks and other actors like academia, to realize the benefit that can be gained through analyzing the role of RTAs of Pakistan with Central Asian countries including Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. It will highlight the importance of South-South cooperation in terms of digital trade integration to overcome the constraints and provide new avenues to boost the trade ties.