Maldives calls for re-energising SAARC economic co-op

MALE, Jan 16: As a SAARC Economic Cooperation conference began here today, one of the founders of the seven-nation grouping urged the business leaders to help it out of present political crisis in the region, reports UNB.

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was to inaugurate the business meet but couldn't for "unavoidable circumstances," made the suggestion in a message to the opening session in this panoramic oceanfront tiny city.

From the president to NGO leaders present, all came up with the opinion that business community should play their bold role in giving a shot in the arm of economic cooperation among the member states to make the SAARC more effective.

"You met here at a crucial time of the SAARC region," President Gayoom told the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry leaders through his opening message.

The Maldives President, a leading personality of the SAARC since its inception 15 years back, expressed his deep concern over the present predicament of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

"Here are also successes of the SAARC," he said, but progress has been hampered by various obstacles. "The most important thing for the SAARC is regular summit," he said without mentioning the hang-up with Nepal Summit.

Elaborating condition of the poorest people living in this region of the world, he criticised increased arms spending and prevailing conflicts. "A lot of South Asian miseries are own creation," he said.

The day-long conference, having seven working sessions, also participated by experts from allover the SAARC countries.

FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo led a 10-member Bangladesh business delegation to the conference. SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kanitkumar R Poddar chaired the inaugural session.

The inaugural session was also addressed by Maldives Minister of Planning and National Development Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, SAARC Secretary General Nihal Rodrigo and Qasim Ibrahim who will take over from R Poddar here tomorrow.

Defining the role of private sector in the present situation of the SAARC, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said the struggle for social and economic cooperation, the motto of the SAARC, shouldn't go bust.

"We must grow upon the lesson from the past ... For continuing the struggle for economic progress, a total commitment through partnership among the governments, peoples and business community is needed."

Striking a positive note in this respect, the South Asian leader mentioned that the business community and academics were coming forward with innovative ideas and new mindset.

SAARC Secretary General Nihal Rodrigo told the function that the business community should continue the present trend of cooperation be whatever the political situation in the region.

Ibrahim Hussain Zaki emphasised the implementation of SAPTA saying that all the impediments to this should be removed with joint and coordinated efforts.

"Globalisation further compelled us for better regional cooperation. We shouldn't sit idle when technology is vanishing traditional border in this present time of free exchange of ideas, goods and cooperation," said the planning minister of the tourist-resort country in the bosom of Indian Ocean.

Siegfreid Herzog of Naumann Foundation that cooperated in arranging the conference urged all to look forward in the new century, evaluating the experiences in the previous years blotted with nuclear blasts by India and Pakistan, Kargil War, military coup and so on.

Making a flashback on the experiences of the European countries that had fought each other for years, he said now they were all together. "Business community had important role in reconciliation in Europe and also in ASEAN," he said, calling for SAARC business leaders to come up with similar mission.

Business leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka attended the Male moot, fourth of its kind.

Bangladesh delegation included FBCCI leaders Abdul Awal Mintoo, M A Mumin, Abu Alam Chowdhury, Mir Nasir Hossain, Dewan Sultan Ahmed, Abdul Haq and Shamsul Kawnain Kutub.

SAARC Secretariat is unhappy that the summit could not be held last year, but optimistic about a congenial atmosphere for meeting of seven key leaders of the region within six months. "We have continued our hectic effort for the Summit," SAARC Secretary General Nihal Rodrigo told UNB on board a plane from Colombo to Male early today.

As he flew in here to attend the 4th SAARC economic cooperation conference, he said the business leaders could play a key role in bringing altogether the forum chiefs by removing the differences.

Rodrigo informed that he visited India this week and would go to Dhaka next month. He will also be visiting other SAARC capitals to pave the way for holding the pending Summit.

"Nepal was fully prepared to host the Summit. They are eagerly waiting to welcome the SAARC leaders," said the executive chief of the SAARC Secretariat based in Katmandu.

The meeting of the heads of state or government could not be held as India and Bangladesh raised objection to joining after military takeover in Pakistan.

"Obviously we are not happy with the present standstill over the Summit. But we are optimistic it may take another six months to hold the Summit."

Asked whether SAARC was proceeding right towards its goals, Rodrigo replied in the affirmative, but hastened to add that the pace of the march is slow.

"One key objective of the SAARC is state-to-state cooperation in various sectors. The SAARC members are proceeding with prospective results under the SAARC framework," he said.