"Fast track thro Free-Trade Agreements in South Asia"
CONFERENCE: At the recently concluded 7th Annual Conference of the
Baoa Forum for Asia, in Hainan province in the People's Republic of
China, former Minister and Southern Province Governor Kingsley T.
Wickramaratne, chairman of the advisory council of the BFA - China met
with the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shankat Aziz.
The Baoa Forum for Asia has been the Asian equivalent of the Dovos
World Economic forum.
Government and Business Leaders from 26 Asian countries and Australia
meet every year in the month of April in the leisure city of Baoa, -
Hainan, People's Republic of China.
The focus at the business sessions and the workshops are on key Asian
issues, - Chairman of BFA General Fiedieral Ramos former President of
the Philippines said in his opening remarks "We have been guided by the
common dream of all over political and the corporate leaders to be able
to response with win-win solutions to every Asian challenge.
We have examined and influenced trends in the Globalised World of the
21st centaury, convey to the world in clear and strong signals, the
concern and aspirations of Asia.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz believes that Pakistan can
serve as a energy corridor between China and the Middle East. The
inauguration of the Gwader Port project on March 20th this year is an
important element of such and strategy. Plans are ahead to build
Gas-Pipelines and transportation networks from Pakistan Ports overland
to China.
Pakistan's intensions are to develop Gwader not only as a
Trans-Shipment Port but also as an Energy Port.
Former Trade, Commerce, Food and the Chairman of the Advisory Council
BFA Kingsley T. Wickramaratne urged for the dismantling of non-tariff
barriers in Europe and Americas for "in today Economies, the Economy of
the IMF and World Bank have become irrelevant and obsolete."
A financial package of 50,000 US$ to Korea or to Thailand by the
World Bank would be peanuts in tomorrow's economies, because by the year
2012, the financial transaction that is done in one year, would take
place in one month and millions of virtual money will be afloat.
Monitory Regulations will lapse behind, but the world needs a flat-form
to discipline virtual currency, and the Baoa Forum for Asia with its
infrastructure and membership could play that vital role effectively.
Wickramaratne said "what the developing countries need are not
handouts from the US or Europe, but market accesses without non-tariff
barriers canalization market incentives, exercise duties and export and
import duties. Once these barriers are eliminated, the world would have
enough food for all of the peoples in all regions".
Wickramaratne said "the biggest barrier for Global Free-Trade is the
European Union. The European Union should be dismantled for the Global
Good. The assembly unanimously adopted the resolution". |