The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, New Delhi

Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has assured that India is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities in SAARC in an asymmetric and non-reciprocal manner for the benefit of the countries in the region.

Inaugurating the SAARC Economic Integration Conference at the auditorium of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here Tuesday, he said, recent exchanges in the SAARC Summits have catalysed SAARC's transformation from declaratory to implementation phase.

He said, the recent Ministerial Meeting of SAFTA has taken forward the on-going negotiations for full implementation of SAFTA in letter and spirit.

"India's has given zero duty access to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) from January 1, 2008, one year ahead of the target date and unilaterally reduced its Negative List with respect to LDCs from 744 to 480. A draft Agreement on Trade in Services is in the final stages of negotiation, to be ready for signature at the next SAARC Summit," he told the audience.

Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI, Rajat Nag, Managing Director General, ADB, Dr Tariq Sayeed, Secretary General, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Dr Sheel Kant Sharma, Secretary General, SAARC also spoke.

Krishna also laid emphasis on South Asia to move beyond security issues that shackle it and enter into an era of mutual trust and mutually reinforcing growth and development.

"United, the South Asian countries can swim and smoothly tide over obstacles like the global financial crisis. Divided, we may well remain boxed in, holding our future hostage to hostile mindsets," he said.

Krishna urged urge all to dedicate themselves to the pursuit of greater flow of trade, investment, knowledge and skills, that would lead to a qualitative enhancement in the well being of the South Asian countries.

He was happy to note that the Conference intends to go beyond broad generalities, to discuss specific themes including trade, customs union, the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and building a SAARC "brand".

"In fact, SAARC is already being "branded" in some ways, through (a) its regional projects being implemented out of the SAARC Development Fund; (b) increased people-to-people level activities; and © establishment of regional entities such as the South Asian University in New Delhi, the SAARC Standards Regional Organisation in Dhaka and the SAARC Arbitration Council in Islamabad. The SAARC "brand" is set to grow stronger in coming decades," he added.

On physical connectivity, he said, physical connectivity will be strengthened based on the recommendations of the SAARC Transport Ministers Meeting, which include (i) identifying three road corridors from SAARC member states through Pakistan to Afghanistan via the Attari-Wagah border; (ii) early commencement of Colombo-Cochin sea link; (iii) running of a demonstration container train from Pakistan to Bangladesh through India and Nepal; (iv) early commencement of direct air linkage between New Delhi and Male; and (v) establishment of an Expert Group to finalise Motor Vehicles and Railway Agreements.