Dhaka urges Saarc to focus on economic growth

State Minister for Finance and Planning Mohammad Abdul Mannan has urged the Saarc member states to work together to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility to achieving economic progress in the South Asian region.

“Bangladesh is committed to continue her cooperative and coordinated efforts and to work jointly in this regard…,” he added, while delivering his statement at the eighth Saarc finance ministers' meeting held in Islamabad yesterday.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the daylong meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Finance of Pakistan Senator Ishaq Dar, said a press release of Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad.

The Bangladesh state minister urged all the member states for early finalisation of schedules of specific commitments under Saarc Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS), on promotion and protection of investment, and on avoidance of double taxation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.

Mannan further said that the member states have shown commendable resilience to global financial crisis, and continue to achieve robust GDP growth.

The robustness of developing and emerging Asian economies has helped safeguard global economic performances, he said.

He said the country's economy registered a significant growth at the rate of 6.4 percent on an average over the last five years.