Regional integration

Deeper integration of the European Union's internal market could prove crucial for boosting lackluster economic growth and productivity levels in the 27-member trading bloc, a senior IMF official told AFP Friday.

"With the delegation of the Senate of France, I discussed all important issues, from the situation in the region and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, to the strengthening of political dialogue and the expansion of bilateral and economic cooperation, especially in the sphere of new large investments," wrote Vui on his Instagram profile and added :

The World Bank (WB) has named South Asia as the fastest growing region in the world (in 2016). However, the global lender said that the region is the least integrated in the world, thus, preventing South Asian countries from benefitting from intra-regional trade.