SAARC conclave advocates common energy policy

Ravi LADDUWAHETTY

The fourth SAARC Business Leaders Conclave which met in Kathmandu from September 20 to 22 decided to recommend a common SAARC energy policy while identifying and implementing power production units with definite plan and intension for trans- border transmission and trade in energy.

“The Conclave further emphasized on implementation of trade facilitation mechanisms as urgent necessity to promote intra-regional trade and demands for creation and upgradation of infrastructure of international standard and scale,” SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Kosala Wickremanayake told Daily News Business yesterday.

The Conclave also deliberated on cooperation in energy and proposes signing the implementation of SAARC transit agreement, shipment agreement, logistics agreements.

ICT agreement to make SAFTA a workable expeditiously mechanism, leading to Customs Union.

The Conclave representing the entire private sector through the National Federations of each of the eight nations unanimously adopted to emphasize on the Governments of the Member Countries to engage seriously on regional connectivity to achieve ‘Peace and Prosperity’ in the region and further requested to take measures to implement the action plan envisioned under the doctrine ‘2010-2020 as decade of Regional Connectivity.’

Realizing enormous potential in trade and investment in the region, the business community recommended the signing of Regional Investment Treaty and upgradation of SAFTA into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement for the Region.

The Conclave recognized water, energy, climate change and food security as the priority concerns and pledges for adoption of necessary collective measures to address these challenges and urgent implementation of Regional Environment Treaty, activation of SAARC Food Bank and proposed setting up SAARC Disaster Management Institute to minimize the impact of natural calamities and climate changes.

The conclave focused on economic empowerment of the women in South Asia.

The Conclave regretted retrospective step in the matter of issuance of Visa and strongly recommended issuance of SAARC Visa Exemption Stickers (SVES) from 100 to 500 for each member country and to increase the period from one year to two years. The Conclave further recommends relaxation in rules for issuance of Visa Multiple Visa for business purposes to all bonafide members recommended by National Federations.

The Conclave recommends allowing not only broadcasting of TV Channels (Government and Private) of all SAARC countries in the entire region; allow content sharing and co-production in entertainment sector but also to encourage joint sector project in ITES sector. In order to deepen this process, it was decided to hold the next SAARC Business Leaders Conclave in 2012.