South Asia has the lowest rate of women entrepreneurs among global regions. To rebuild after COVID-19, South Asia needs women-led businesses to drive innovative services and products, create jobs, and close gender gaps.
The pandemic pushed food prices up 10% in South Asia. Regional cooperation can help stabilize food supplies by easing trade barriers and managing climate change impacts on crop production.
Regional cooperation to find solutions to shared problems can help South Asia rebuild after COVID-19. Intraregional trade, for instance, is only one-third of its potential with an estimated gap of $23 billion.
