SAARC Commerce ministers stress on regional synergy

KATHMANDU, Jan 19: Commerce Ministers of South Asian region have said that the collective commitment backed by political will is needed to fight poverty and backwardness in the region.

Speaking at the fifth SAARC Business Leaders Conference held in New Delhi, they have also urged the stakeholders to reduce the trade deficit with special focus on the development of transportation infrastructure.


They also demanded easy and simplified visa process in the SAARC countries.

The commerce ministers have also laid emphasis on concrete works to empower women and youths of the region for the socioeconomic transformation.

Addressing the conference, Minister for Commerce and Supplies, Shankar Prasad Koirala, said that all the countries in the region must also find ways to reap optimum benefits from the immense natural resources in the region.

According to Minister Koirala´s press aide Sanket Koirala, he also opined that the competitive capacity can only be developed if the operating cost of the trade could be reduced.

Likewise, Commerce Ministers from other SAARC countries said that the cooperation among the South Asian nations was a prerequisite for the overall economic development of the region.

(Source: REPUBLICA)