Dhaka to press for regional connectivity
Dhaka will stress cooperation on regional connectivity, poverty alleviation, youth development and fighting terrorism, among other major issues, during the 18th Saarc Summit in Kathmandu on November 26-27.
The meeting of eight South Asian nations is expected to ink Saarc Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst Saarc member states, Saarc Regional Railways Agreement, and Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity).
The three deals will be a big step towards greater regional integration. The Bangladesh cabinet has already cleared the agreements. Speaking at a press conference at the foreign ministry yesterday, Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a 37-member Bangladesh delegation to the summit.
However, official sources said the number might be at least 200 as over 90 journalists, around 50 from Dhaka and 40 from elsewhere, will accompany the PM on the tour.
The size of the delegation is yet to be finalised as it is still evolving, added officials.
The minister said Dhaka will focus on 10 core issues for regional cooperation -- youth development, poverty alleviation, connectivity, climate change, science and technology, education, women empowerment, food security and combating terrorism.
“We'll also put emphasis on timely and proper implementation of the decisions within the Saarc,” he mentioned, adding that Bangladesh wants to see the Saarc as a more vibrant platform to ensure people's benefits.
On signing of three deals, Ali said once the agreements were signed, movement of goods and people would be improved among Saarc countries and cooperation in the energy sector would be strengthened. Bilateral and multilateral relations among the member states will also get a boost.
About the intra-Saarc trade, he said despite the good prospect of a market of 1.7 billion people, regional trade has not increased much.
The current volume of intra-Saarc trade is less than 5 percent of the total trade in South Asia. On the contrary, the volume of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) trade is 26 percent among the member nations and that of European Union is 45 percent.
Queried by a journalist, the minister said Saarc has come a long way in bringing people closer to each other. “Progress is there. But more progress could have been made. The success that has been achieved can't be undermined.”
He hoped the Saarc leaders would give specific guidelines to improve people's lifestyle and ensure peace and prosperity in the region.
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