ADB study proposes economic corridors to address regional imbalances

An economic corridor development plan with a potential to generate 1.2 million new jobs by 2030 is being proposed by a recent study of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 

In keeping with the Sri Lankan government’s development strategy, Vision 2025, the ADB has initiated a comprehensive development plan for the Colombo-Trincomalee Economic Corridor (CTEC) to address some of the development challenges faced by the country. 

Pilot economic corridor development initiatives will focus on an East-West corridor that can flourish by taking advantage of existing international gateways, such as the Bandaranaike International Airport and Colombo Port, which are located at the western end of the corridor. The proposed Central Expressway, which is about 280 kilometers long, will act as the spine of the corridor. 

An influence area of 50 kilometers on either side has been selected, which cuts across 6 provinces and 10 districts. The districts in the influence area cover 42  percent of Sri Lanka’s total area, account for 58 percent of the total population, and contribute 86 percent to industrial output.

“To implement the economic corridor, it is necessary to identify economic centers that can be prioritized for development and made ready for attracting investments,” said Utsav Kumar, ADB’s Country Economist for Sri Lanka. “This will help channel valuable resources in a focused manner, thus maximizing the potential benefits of the corridor. Aligning them with existing transport spines helps generate synergies that further boost the potential of the corridor.” 

The right mix of industries needs to be promoted in order to develop effective and efficient production clusters along the corridor. Acknowledging Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in traditionally strong sectors such as apparel, food processing, and rubber and rubber products, the study proposes to build on existing strengths by upgrading the performance of these sectors as well as to focus on identifying newer sectors in which Sri Lanka can improve internal competencies and diversify into other sectors.

The corridor development plan seeks to address regional imbalances in the country through regional development and by extending the strengths of the Western Region to the other end of the CTEC and along the corridor. Trincomalee’s proximity to potential transport gateways and position as a key tourist attraction can be leveraged to establish it as a complementary location to Colombo on the eastern end of CTEC and along the corridor. The node shows potential for emerging as a hub for light manufacturing. The nurtured development of Trincomalee will balance the corridor’s growth by increasing the competitiveness of the eastern part of the corridor, which will help to address regional imbalances in the country.

Infrastructure interventions—power, road, railways, ports, and airports—along with supporting urban ecosystems will play a critical role in enabling industrial development and achieving the vision of the corridor. A well-defined and planned infrastructure strategy is thus essential. The study concludes by drawing attention to what necessitates a successful ECD program. A well formulated institutional and governance framework to coordinate policies and their implementation at the central, provincial, and local administrative levels. This coordinating framework should ensure integrated planning, development, and management of the corridor with requisite physical and industrial infrastructure, urban and social amenities for attracting a skilled workforce, and investment promotion and facilitation mechanisms. 
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region.