South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC)

SARIC organized another workshop on the topic of ‘Gender Mainstreaming at Land Ports’ in Thimphu in May 2024. The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI).

The objective of the workshop was to engage with policy makers, private sector stakeholders and representatives of international development assistance agencies on the constraints experienced by women entrepreneurs in Bhutan to participate in international trade; facilitate discussion on the impediments faced by women at the land ports; sensitize policy makers on the need and usefulness of applying a gender lens to infrastructure development at the land ports; explore opportunities for regional cooperation and sharing of perspectives on the contours of a common template that can serve as a guide for an inclusive and common regional approach towards gender mainstreaming at the land ports among the BBIN countries.

The opening remarks by Dr Steven Barraclough, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Government of Australia, emphasized on the relevance of SARIC as a program in building connectivity and inclusivity and reinforced that inclusive development would not be possible without the participation of those impacted by it. Other keynote addresses were delivered by the World Bank, Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Ms. Dasho Dechen Wangmo, Head PEMA & former Minister for Health, Royal Government of Bhutan, and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI).

The workshop also saw participation from representatives of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Bhutan Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAOWE), Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport, Ministry of Industry Commerce and Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Department of Revenue and Customs and National Commission for Women and Children, amongst others.

Some of the key workshop takeaways were that women in trade in Bhutan needed gender responsive infrastructure and operations at the land ports . It was recognized that gender sensitization and ability building programs are vital for creating an enabling ecosystem. It was also acknowledged that countries also needed to support knowledge products and learning opportunities for greater buy-in from governments and knowledge workshops like these are welcome. Infrastructure is one of the most challenging avenues in Bhutan which is largely mountainous and accessible infrastructure is vital for persons with disability to effectively participate. The workshop concluded with a networking dinner.