International conference on regional trade facilitation by FCCISL and SAARC Chamber

Tuesday, 3 July 2012 01:49 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A high level Conference and a seminar intend to address the issues pertaining to trade facilitation in the SAARC region under the SAFTA arrangement with the participation of prominent researchers, government policy makers in the SAARC members’ states with critical inputs and pragmatic suggestions from all stakeholders in the private sector and trade associations is scheduled to be held soon in Colombo.



Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), in collaboration with the SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) with the partnership of Friedrich Naumann Stiftung is organising a conference on Trade Facilitation, ‘Addressing Barriers to Foster South Asian Free Trade Agreement in South Asia’ at the Taj Samudra Hotel on Friday, 13 July.

Trade facilitation is largely used to improve the regulatory interface between government bodies and traders at national borders. It is also recognised that South Asian countries continue to adopt measures for advancement of trade facilitation measures. Development of infrastructure facilities required for trade facilitation efforts are also undertaken by some of the member countries. Despite the enhancement of regional integration from Preferential Trading Arrangement to a fully fledged Free Trade Agreement, intra-trade among the SAFTA members remains at disappointed and dismal level while the other regional arrangements such as NAFTA, ASEAN, APEC maintain high level of intra trade among members. This gloomy outlook was attributed to many factors and among them insufficient attention paid on trade facilitation in the provisions of the SAARC Framework Agreement, lack of proper infrastructure relating to trade facilitation and cost and delay incurred in processing of documents at the boarder through manual operations are prominent.

In this context, the seminar intends to address the entire gamut of issues pertaining to trade facilitation in the SAARC region under the SAFTA arrangement by prominent researchers who have specialised on the subject, government policy makers who are involved in the field of trade facilitation in the SAARC members states with critical inputs and pragmatic suggestions from all stakeholders in the private sector and trade associations.

Participants from the SAARC region consisting of exporters, public sector policy makers, members from the academic community and journalists are expected at the seminar. The conference will be enriched with the addresses of prominent Indian businessman Shri Vikramajit Singh Sahney and SAARC CCI President Madhukar SJB Rana, Nepal’s Former Minister of Finance Subodh Kumar, Snr. Executive Programs Friedrich Naumann Stiftung and Presidents of SAARC CCI Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Inaugural address will be delivered by Minister of Ministry of Industry and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen. Among the topics to be delivered at the seminar are How to simplify Procedures to facilitate regional trade? Trade Facilitation and sub-regional initiatives in SAARC, Improving Port Logistics and transport efficiency issues, Financing Custom Infrastructure.

Organisations and individuals who are interested in participating at the conference and the seminar may contact FCCISL Media Co-ordinator Niranjala Velathanthrige on 0773147187, 2304253/4, email  [email protected] or log in to www.fccisl.lk.

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