The New Nation - Internet Edition

18 months ago I became the first person to cross the new trans-national Asian Highway when we drove an Aston Martin from Tokyo to Istanbul (and then on to London) with the support of the United Nations commission in Bangkok (UNESCAP). It is quite right for the Chamber's report to say it is critical that this new road network integrates Bangladesh with India and China because it has the potential to bring a huge increase in the amount of trade between them and the other countries of South-east Asia.

That is precisely its purpose. It has taken the Asian nations 50 years to pull an inter-governmental agreement together, but the reality is that many modern-day hazards lie ahead.

Will the Highway also bring about 'unintended consequences' like an increase in the drugs trade of the so-called Golden Triangle, a rise in sex trafficking and the rapid spread of disease? The danger is that improving this new Route to Market is just as likely to benefit the supply chain for these illicit trades as it is for legitimate goods and services.

Richard Meredith, Author

Newport Pagnell, UK