SL to host 6th SA Economic Summit

Six years since its inauguration in Colombo, the South Asia Economic Summit (SAES) would be held once again in Sri Lanka from September 2 to 4, 2013, hosted by the country's leading economic policy think tank, the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS). Held annually since 2008, the SAES is hosted in a different South Asian country each year.

The Summit has become the premier regional event that debates socio-economic issues facing South Asia and bringing together leading experts from academia, governments, civil society and the private sector in this region.

This year's SAES would tackle many of the critical issues facing the economies and the people of South Asian countries, including the imperatives for closer regional cooperation. The emerging growth opportunities and challenges for South Asia in the context of changing global economic dynamics, would come into focus at this Summit, similar to the World Economic Forum held annually in Davos, Switzerland, albeit at a regional level.

With the summit theme of 'Towards a Stronger, Dynamic and Inclusive South Asia', the three day deliberations would discuss what South Asian states need to do to strengthen their economic growth prospects, while managing risks and challenges, building a stronger region as a whole. The Summit is expected to host around 150 foreign delegates.