Home to more than 1.

6 billion people South Asia has experienced significant economic growth

over the last decade. The region offers diverse array of investment potential in different
sectors and has become the corridor of opportunities. The region presents enormous
opportunities, as a large market, with a significant share of its 30% population being young,
potentially economically active, creating a future demographic bulge that presents an opportunity
to develop human capital and nurture entrepreneurship.
The South Asian region has huge potential for renewable energy, posing lucrative opportunity
to the investors. With energy endowments of Pakistan 158 TWh/year, Nepal 158
TWh/year and Bhutan 24,000 MWh/year, the region has considerable untapped potential for
power generation from its hydro sources.
The SAARC Investment Outlook: Unleashing the Potential of South Asia has been carried out by
the SAARC CCI secretariat. The publication showcases investment potential of the member
countries of SAARC, to attract the investment from the region and beyond.
SAARC INVESTMENT OUTLOOK: Unleashing the Potential of South Asia is an effort of
SAARC CCI to showcase and brand the economic potential of South Asian region to attract
investment and investor from the region and beyond. It provides the investors with the relevant
information to initiate business.
The publication highlights economic, social and financial benefits of 110 potential projects, FDI
policies of the relevant countries, identifies the relevant stakeholders and focal persons to carry
out the projects. It includes the economic and social impacts of these projects and provides
information on the investment requirement, the investment and economic incentives being
offered by the government with the contact details of the relevant individuals and institutional
relevant to the projects.
This study is an endeavor of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to provide the
investors with relevant information and support the development of successful business
operations. We hope this report will acceler- ate interest, innovation, cooperation and investment
in the region. The goal of this research is to inform inves- tors, currently deploying capital in
the region, and spark further interest form those considering investing investment in the
region.
Country wise Number of
Projects
Afghanistan 15
Bangladesh 16
Bhutan 12
India 11
Maldives 5
Nepal 15
Pakistan 15
Sri Lanka 19

Sector wise Number of

Projects
Manufacturin 28
g
Infrastructur 22
e
Energy 11
Agriculture 13
Tourism 14
Services 10