This document discusses building bridges between Central Asia, West Asia, and South Asia by breaking down barriers between the regions. It outlines the potential for cooperation, current challenges, and India's role in developing a common strategy. The key areas of focus are energy, investment, human resources, technology, markets, and security. Working together on connectivity projects, counterterrorism, food security, and economic policies could help achieve shared growth and prosperity across the three regions.

1. ‘‘Building Bridges between CentralBuilding Bridges between Central
Asia, West Asia & South Asia –Asia, West Asia & South Asia –
Breaking Silos’Breaking Silos’
Dr. Zakir HussainDr. Zakir Hussain
&&
Dr Athar ZafarDr Athar Zafar
Research FellowResearch Fellow
Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
Sapru House, New Delhi, IndiaSapru House, New Delhi, India
The paper was presented during Furth India-Central Asia Dialogue held atThe paper was presented during Furth India-Central Asia Dialogue held at
ICWA, Sapru House on 1-2 December 2016, new Delhi. The authors areICWA, Sapru House on 1-2 December 2016, new Delhi. The authors are
working on this roject.working on this roject.

2. OUTLINEOUTLINE
Objectives
Potential
Challenges
Synergy
India’s Role in Evolving A Common
Strategy for a United & Cohesive Asia
Conclusion

3. OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE
‘‘TTo Develop a Common,o Develop a Common,
Cooperative, Complementary &Cooperative, Complementary &
Reciprocal Model of Growth forReciprocal Model of Growth for
Three Asias Living in Silos’Three Asias Living in Silos’

4. POTENTIAL OF THREE REGIONSPOTENTIAL OF THREE REGIONS
South AsiaSouth Asia West AsiaWest Asia Central AsiaCentral Asia
 Big Market, including
for Energy
 Energy Super-bowl
 Energy & Mineral
Rich Region
 Potential Investment
Market
 Huge Investment Capital
 (Huge SWF)
 Potential Investment
market
 Large Middle Class  Cash Rich Middle Class
 Emerging Middle
Class
 Land & Maritime
Connectivity from Asia
to Asia-Pacific
 Better Connectivity –Asia,
Africa & Europe
 Corridor Between
‘Europe & Asia’ &
Different Asian Regions
 Cheap Young Labour
Force
 Migrant Friendly
 Educated & Skilled
Young Migrant Work
Force
 Low Cost Manufacturing
Capability
 World Class Infrastructure;
Uninterrupted Power
Supply, Low Taxation Policy
 Low Cost Labour,
Power & Amicable
Climate
 Focus on R&D &
Technology
Up-gradation
 Focus on R&D &
Technology Up-gradation
 Focus on R&D &
Technology
Up-gradation

5. CHALLENGES OF THREE REGIONSCHALLENGES OF THREE REGIONS
South Asia Central Asia West Asia
 Minimal Intra-Region
Economic, Manpower
& Investment Flows
 Minimal Intra-Region
Economic, Manpower &
Investment Flows
 Relatively better
Intra-Region
Economic,
Manpower &
Investment Flows
 Inadequate Investment
Capital
 Inadequate Investment
Capital
 Rich in Capital But
are Market
Constraint
 Terrorism & Security
Threat
 Terrorism & Security
Threat
 Terrorism &
Security Threat
 Ineffective or Non-
Functional Regional
Groupings (SAARC)
 Absence of Regional
Grouping
(Five CAR have no regional
grouping)
 Regional Groupings
Relatively Better
(GCC)

6. CHALLENGES OF THREE REGIONSCHALLENGES OF THREE REGIONS
South Asia Central Asia West Asia
 Inadequate
Infrastructure
(need investment)
 Infrastructure
Modernization Needed
(need investment)
 Reduce Dependence on
Energy & Promote
Diversification
 Less Integrated  Connectivity Issue
 Regionally Integrated;
But Now Focusing East
 Youth Unemployment,
Skills & Expertise
Deficiency
 Youth Unemployment
 Youth Unemployment,
Skills Mismatch, (Faulty
Education & Employment
Policy)
 Energy, Nutrition &
Food Security (energy
deficient &
malnutrition high)
 Disaster Prone (Earth
Quake, Environment
Problem,
desertification - Aral
Sea Drying)
 Desertification,
Food/Nutritional &
Water Insecurity, High
Per Capita Carbon
Emission (p.c. water <1/3
of Global average)

7. SYNERGIZING CENTRAL-WEST-SOUTHSYNERGIZING CENTRAL-WEST-SOUTH
ASIAASIA
Indicators Central Asia South Asia West Asia
Energy
Energy Rich Region Import Energy from
both Regions
Energy Rich Region
Investment
Capital
Need Investment
Capital
Need Investment
Capital
Surplus Investment
Capital
Food Security Surplus Arable Land
Acquiring Overseas
Land & Ensure
Food/Nutrition
Security
Acquiring Overseas
Farmland & Ensure
Food/Nutritional
Security
Manpower Potentially Deficient
Surplus Manpower
(both skilled &
Unskilled)
Deficient in Labour
Force (Skilled &
Unskilled)
Connectivity
& Trade
CAR- Active stage of
Building Energy, Trade
& Transit Corridors
Active Partner in
Building Energy,
Trade & Transit
Corridors
Active partner in
Building Energy, Trade
& Transit Corridors
Security &
Terrorism
Common Approach
Common Approach
(Except Pakistan)
Common Approach
R&D &
Frontline
Technology
Technology Exists but
Needs Upgradation
Leadership in Select
Technologies & Active
in R&D (India) (IT,
BoiTech, Space,
Health)
Seeking Cutting-edge
Technology,
Knowledge-based
Economy
(Diversification)

8. SIX CORE COMPONENTS –DRIVERS OFSIX CORE COMPONENTS –DRIVERS OF
COMMON GROWTH & PROSPERITYCOMMON GROWTH & PROSPERITY
Convergence on Six Core Areas are Potentially
Capable of Addressing Challenges & Putting
Three Asias on Growth & Prosperity Path:
EnergyEnergy
Investment CapitalInvestment Capital
Human ResourceHuman Resource
Technology UpgradationTechnology Upgradation
Market &Market &
SecuritySecurity

9. INDIA’S ROLEINDIA’S ROLE
India’s relations with these regions are millennia old. It is at
ease in dealing with their political, social & cultural ethos &
aspirations
India has already worked out the future roadmap of acheieving
an Integrated Asia
Evident from New Delhi’s policy to break Asian Silos:
 Evolved from Look East (1992) to Act East (2014)
 From Look West (2005)
 Connect Central Asia Policy (2012)
 Neighbourhood First Policy (2014)
These four Asia policies not only provide visions to break Asian
silos but also prepare a roadmap to establish an economically
integrated Asia
Achieving an economically integrated & cohesive Asia will also
pave the way for greater political understanding

10. APPROACH TO BREAK ASIAN SILOS &APPROACH TO BREAK ASIAN SILOS &
ACHIEVE SHARED GROWTH & PROSPERITYACHIEVE SHARED GROWTH & PROSPERITY
• Establishing a Common Regional Bank for Financing Common Projects
can be considered
• Energy: Evolve a Common Energy Export-Import Policy with a Periodical
Meetings between Buyers & Sellers
• Economic Policy:
– ‘Complementary’’ than ‘Competitive’ Model of Economic Growth can generate mutually
beneficial situation
– Promoting Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
– Countries can explore common grounds for engagements: such as Make in India, Digital
India in India and various Economic Diversification Programmes in West Asia (Saudi
Vision-2030) & Central Asia (Nur Zal in Kazakhstan)
• Speed Up Connectivity Projects: INSTC, TAPI, CASA-1000, Ashgabat
Agreement, Lapis Lazuli, Chabahar Port, Oil & Gas Pipeline Projects from
West Asia
• Security: Developing a Common Comprehensive Counterterrorism
Strategy & Policy & Establishing Institutional Mechanism for
Intelligence Sharing & Training, etc; Security of Energy at Sea &
Stabilizing Afghanistan –The common neighbourhood of Three Asias
• Food & Nutrition Security: South Asia & West Asia can Invest in Central
Asian Arable Land & Ensure their Food/Nutrition Security; Generating
Employment for Locals & developing a Common Food/Nutrition Security
Policy for Three Asias

11. ConclusionConclusion
• Three Regions have abundant Resources, both Natural
& Material
• Historically three regions are well & are Compatible with
each other’s Political, Social, Cultural & People-to-People
Relations. Unlike other major powers, India is not a security
competition either in Central Asia or West Asia. It believes in the
principles of ‘Live & Let Live’. New Delhi believes in resource
diplomacy nor illegal dumping policy & destroy one indigenous
industries and SMEs and rendered thousands of people
unemployed.
• Utilization of Abundant Energy Resources, Cheap Labour
Force, Technology, Skill, Investment Capital, Vast Market &
Institutional Mechanism can help in achieving common
objectives of Shared Growth & Prosperity & Stabilize the Region
by Engaging Youth
• Need of the time is to build trust & work on:
‘Evolving a common blueprint for combined growth
based on Complementary, Cooperative & Reciprocal
Mechanism. Three regions Need Long-term Planning
& Innovative Thinking’