SAARC business leaders for USD 20 bn trade by 2010

Mumbai, Feb 19 (UNI) The second SAARC business leaders conclave have adopted a 13-point policy reform agenda to achieve intra-regional trade of 20 billion USD by 2010 for submission to the 14th SAARC Heads of States Summit.

The two-day conclave, which concluded here yesterday, urged member-countries to implement SAFTA in letter and spirit; reduce the sensitive lists; remove non-trade barriers, regularise and liberalise trade in services and reduce the cost of doing business in South Asia.

It called for a regional investment protocol to promote and protect intra-regional investments and joint ventures in South Asia; harmonise standards and customs procedure and ensure mutual recognition of certificates.

The reformist agenda also called for finalising and expeditiously implementing Regional Motor Vehicle Transport Agreement and introduction of world class infrastructure at land border ports of SAARC member nations.

The conclave urged for an open sky policy in South Asia by improving air connectivity by ensuring direct flights between capital and other major cities and giving access to private airlines in all countries to operate in the region.

It called for promoting energy cooperation to enhance energy production and transmission among SAARC member-countries so asto reduce cost.

The agenda called for expanding scope of cross border water cooperation from water sharing to benefit sharing ( hydropower ). It urged for providing easy and long term multiple entry visas to businessmen and tourists. It also envisaged adoption and implemention of a regional environment treaty.

It exhorted promoting and facilitating SAARC countries-owned shipping vehicles to have priority berthing at each other's ports and creation of special facilities for land-locked countries.

The agenda called for allowing broadcast of TV channels - both government and private - of all SAARC nations in the entire region and also for content sharing and co-production in entertainment sector.

The SAARC Chamber of Commerce will immediately begin a dialogue with policy makers to implement these reforms and will report the progress at the next SAARC business leaders conclave to be held in Pakistan in 2008, a statement said.

Over 300 leading businessmen from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka attended the conclave which was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. SAARC Secretary General Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji besides Ministers and senior officials from all members states addressed the conclave.

UNI