Regional development

Last updated November 23, 2025

Regional development refers to a broad category of policies aimed at reducing regional disparities within an economy or across economies by devoting resources to underdeveloped areas. Regional development can be national or international in nature. Therefore, the implications and scope of regional development may vary according to the definition of a region and how the region and its boundaries are perceived internally and externally.

In the past, regional development tended to center mostly on inward investment within national economies (OECD,2020). In recent decades, however, regional development has taken on an increasingly international character. For example, organizations such as the OECD, UN, and IMF have stepped up various forms of economic assistance to less developed regions.

By country

Canada

Regional differences and disparities in Canada are quite significant. Some regions appear highly developed, while others remain noticeably lagging behind. The country possesses a fragmented economic structure. For this reason, the free market does not function uniformly across all regions, and policies that are implemented uniformly throughout the country cannot compensate for the market’s weaknesses in certain areas.

As a result, regional development in Canada has become so important that former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau stated in a speech that issues between the regions of the country are just as vital to Canada’s national unity as the relations between England and France.

Since the 1960s, various policies, plans, and organizations have been proposed in Canada to improve regional development, some of which are listed below:(Sheikhazami,2024)

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Western Economic Diversification Canada

Finland

Malaysia

Central Terengganu Development Authority, or Lembaga Kemajuan Terengganu Tengah (KETENGAH) – official website
Kedah Regional Development Authority, or Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah (KEDA) – official website
South East Johore Development Authority, or Lembaga Kemajuan Johor Tenggara (KEJORA) – official website
South Kelantan Development Authority, or Lembaga Kemajuan Kelantan Selatan (KESEDAR) – official website

Nigeria

AREWA Center for Regional Development (ACRD) – official website

United Kingdom

Regional Development has been an explicit concern of UK policy makers since at least the 1970s.^[1]

It currently falls under the auspices of the Regional development agency.

United States