Saarc must focus on transport links for growth

Saarc should encourage more analysis and dialogue to examine the status and possibility of transport connectivity among its member countries to spur economic growth, a recent international summit in Dhaka recommended.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation members need to move beyond bilateral charters and communiqués to trilateral and multilateral understandings within the region, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said in a set of recommendations after the Fourth South Asia Economic Summit.
The local think-tank organised the summit on October 22-23 and released the recommendations yesterday for the upcoming Saarc summit and general recommendations for the region.
About 100 participants, including ministers, government officials, experts, academics, trade and industry leaders, non-government development policy activists and development partners from the region and beyond participated at the event.
The recommendations originating from the two-day summit will be forwarded to the appropriate focal points of the preparatory process of the 17th Saarc Summit to be held in Addu City, Maldives, on November 9-11.
On connectivity, CPD said regional transit agreements such as Asean should be concluded in South Asia. The region needs to take lessons from other regional agreements.
"There should be a dedicated fund for restoration of various rail, road and maritime routes in the region. The Saarc Secretariat can play a vital role in motivating the member countries towards this objective," it said.
On food security, it said for effective implementation of the Saarc Food Bank, the price fixation mechanism should be revised and operational procedures simplified.
The nations should develop joint projects for technology exchange with specific targets for the exchange of germplasm, varieties and breeds, crop husbandry practices, animal husbandry practices, fisheries management techniques, water and natural resource management techniques and post harvest and processing technologies.
On energy issues, it said the Saarc Secretariat should take measures to move initiatives on energy forward. It should develop the Saarc Regional Energy Trade and Cooperation Agreement and establish a comprehensive and reliable energy database.
The recommendations for the upcoming Saarc Summit also include climate change. It urged member states to develop a joint project under Saarc for adaptation to climate change in agriculture.
On water, it said a “Rivers Authority” should be set up to conduct joint research and monitoring of water related issues.
On trade, it called for an early phasing out of the SAFTA negative list by the developing countries of the region. Mutual Recognition Agreements should be an instrument to reduce the scope and role of non-tariff barriers.
CPD said migration needs to be incorporated in the summit's agenda. The Saarc Secretariat should advocate initiation of working visa among the countries.
On investment, Saarc should discourage bi-literalism in the region and bi-lateral restrictions on investment by the individual country should be lifted. Policy-makers should find provisions for joint venture investment in other regions forming companies, CPD said.