India, Aug. 10 -- Geopolitics is increasingly intertwined with the economic destiny of South Asia. Even before the US tariffs were rolled out, growing polycrises had hit the global economy, which has been struggling since the pandemic. South Asia seems a relatively bright spark of regional trade and growth. This paper analyses South Asia's trade architecture in the backdrop of a sluggish world economy in the 2020s, and makes recommendations for closer regional economic integration.

South Asia today is the world's most populated region and fastest growing, in a global economy experiencing a period of tepid growth and suddenly faced with mounting risks. This economic reality has put the international spotlight on South Asia with some econo...