The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The 4th ministerial council meeting of the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) is set to begin today in Katmandu in Nepal.

Commerce Minister Mohammad Faruq Khan left the capital yesterday for attending the meeting. He is leading a six-member delegation.

SAFTA ministerial council, comprising the Commerce Ministers of the SAARC nations, is the highest decision making body on trade and commerce.

Enhancement of trade, raising the level of economic cooperation among the SAARC countries, reviewing the latest development of SAARC Framework Agreement on Trade in Services Negotiations, removal of duty and non-traffic barriers and sensitive lists among the South Asian countries are likely to dominate the meeting.

Earlier the delegation joined the 4th meeting on Agreement on Trade in Services, 5th meeting of SAFTA Committee of Experts and SAARC Group on Non Traffic Measures on October 24 to 27 in Katmandu.

The Commerce Minister is accompanied by Bangladesh High Commissioner in Nepal, Dr Md Ruhul Amin Sarcar, joint secretary, SM Monirul Islam, deputy secretary (FTA) of the Ministry of Commerce, Qazi Imtiaz Hossain, Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charges of SAARC, BIMSTEC and ACD and Dr Mostafa Abid Khan, joint chief of Bangladesh Traffic Commission.