Utilise potential of South Asia

President Zillur Rahman yesterday urged leaders of the Saarc member states to build up youths of the region as skilled human resources for proper utilisation of the potential of South Asia.
“Youths of the region can only remove the barriers that hinder socio-economic development of South Asia,” he said while inaugurating the two-day convention of youth and business community of South Asia at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city.
The Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Saarc CCI) and Federation of Bangladesh Chamber and Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the high-level convention titled “Lead 2012: Youth in Rising South Asia: Promises and Dreams”.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Commerce Minister GM Quader spoke as the special guests while Saarc Secretary General Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed spoke as the guest of honour.
Presided over by FBCCI President AK Azad, the inaugural session was also addressed by Saarc CCI former president Salman F Rahman and president Annisul Huq.
Zillur said around 150 crores of people, one fifth of the total world population, are residing in the eight countries of South Asia and of them a large portion are aged between 15 and 24.
“These youths are filled with full of vigor and they are main resource of the region,” he said adding “they would have to be brought up with leadership quality.”
He urged the Saarc leaders to contribute to flourishing talents of the youth as well as building them up with the spirit of secularism.
The president said Saarc had been formed two and half decades ago with the objective of improving socio-economic status of the South Asian people.
So far, he said 17 Saarc summits took place and various initiatives like Safta, Saarc development fund, Saarc food bank and Saarc seed bank have been adopted for poverty alleviation, facing natural calamities and bringing bridges among the South Asian nations.
However, he said it is true the expectation of forming Saarc for socio-economic development of the region is yet to be fulfilled till today.
“The doors of ample opportunity are open in front of us,” he said adding “these opportunities would have to be realised through extending full confidence and cooperation among the member states of Saarc.
The president hoped that the convention would provide further impetus and momentum to build a prosperous South Asia. “I believe this convention will also be a unique platform for exchanging views and ideas and providing ample opportunity for closer interactions among the youth of Saarc countries.”
The objective of the convention is to bring together the leading figures from South Asia face-to-face to share the motivation behind the achievement whether in business, arts, social entrepreneurship, politics or charity and look to synchronies the future possibilities as a region.
A total of 400 young leaders of different sectors of the eight member states of Saarc Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are being participated in the convention.