SAARC needs to move faster - Chamber Head

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Many regional trade blocks in other continents are on the way of total economic integration following the path of European Union. Therefore SAARC countries need to move faster because the world is progressing fast SAARC Chamber of Commerce India (CCI) President Annisul Huq said.

Delivering the keynote address at the 16th SAARC Summit Round Up at Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo yesterday, he said, South Asia is not acting sufficiently fast because they are engaged in more polemics than the real business.

"SAARC countries should wind up 2010 with a vow to make 2011 a year of SAARC Chamber making more effective and meaningful contribution to carry forward the SAFTA process as the important first step towards South Asian Economic Union," Huq said.

He said South Asia's private sector today lays great emphasis on physical connectivity, people to people, socio cultural, telecom and IT and infrastructure connectivity.

The political leadership should take adequate measures to implement SAARC multi-model transport agreement including railway and motor vehicle agreement in a phased manner, he said.

He insisted the importance of improving cross border physical infrastructure and freedom of movement across borders through the adoption of a flexible visa regime.

The main objective of the round up was to analytically review the economic decisions of the Heads of States at 16th SAARC Summit concluded in Bhutan recently.