Bangladesh Railway

Bangladesh, a member of South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC), is developing a railway network linking the country with neighboring SASEC member countries like India, Myanmar, and Nepal under the financial assistance from different institutions such as ADB. In this presentation, Mr. Hossain gave an overview of the different rail corridors being developed in Bangladesh under the SASEC program, and its interconnectivity to the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) Network.

Md. Jahangir Hossain

Dr. Hossain has held research fellow appointments at Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Canada, Institute for Telecommunications research (ITR), Australia and McGill University, Canada.  He has also gained  practical experiences towards developing contemporary wireless communication systems through his industrial appointments. In particular, he has worked at Intel Inc., USA as a research intern and at Redline Communications, Canada as a senior systems engineer.

ADB's Regional Cooperation Programs and Their Role in Scaling Up Investment Needs in New Technology and Methods

In this presentation, Ms. Yang discussed integrated corridor management in the context of ADB's existing regional cooperation programs. In particular, she presented various initiatives related to modal integration, intermodal logistics centers and services, integrated border crossing point management, and harmonization of standards and procedures.​

Building Information Modelling (BIM) for Railway Design, Construction, Operation and Asset Management

In this presentation, Mr. Makwana gives an overview of Building Information Modeling (BIM), including the drivers for its global adoption, and its uses in the railway sector. He also presents a number of technology solutions for rail track systems, electrification, signalling and communications, as well as some implementation challenges regarding BIM.

Asset Management Digitalization: Key Transformations Introduced by Digital Technologies

In this presentation, Mr. Romei shares Systra's experience with asset digitalization, including the challenges involved and case studies that illustrate its successful implementation. He also emphasized the value of utilizing digital technologies such as big data and IoT, and integrated platforms to deliver solutions for asset digitalization and effective decision making.​

Infrastructure Sustainability: A Shift of Priorities Towards Lifecycle Cost and Maintenance

In this presentation, Mr. Leather cites inadequate financing support to develop high-quality, high-capacity transport infrastructure and services as a key contributing factor to the current infrastructure gap in Asia and the Pacific. He also emphasized the importance of rehabilitation, improved management, and maintenance in improving the region's railroad system standards and operations, as well as the changing areas for ADB assistance in the railway sector.​

Asia-Pacific Railway Innovations Forum 2019

The level of railway technology varies greatly throughout developing Asia and the Pacific but is often ancient in terms of railway infrastructures, systems, and rolling stock. New technologies in the digital sphere, from control systems to data gathering, create an immense opportunity, but at the same time, the agony of choice as countries must sort and prioritize which technologies are the most appropriate in their specific, national case.

Xiaohong Yang

Xiaohong Yang joined ADB’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department as Chief Thematic Officer on 31 March 2021. Prior to this appointment, she was the ADB’s Country Director for Pakistan since early 2017, where she led the ADB’s operational, knowledge and partnership efforts to building up key infrastructure, institutions and reforms in the area of energy, transport, water, urban, agriculture, finance, social sector, and public-private partnerships.