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Morshed for more intra-Saarc trade

Staff Correspondent
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan yesterday called for a fundamental change in foe 'largely insignificant' intra-Saarc trade for the third decade's vision of a more forwardlooking, inclusive and result-oriented regional forum.
"The third decade of Saarc would
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be one of implementation rather than a decade of declarations," qnnounced Morshed as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a seminar on ’Vision of Saarc in the Third Decade’.
"Intra-regional trade in South Asia remains largely insignificant. A forward looking vision for Saarc for the third decade calls for a space for ail our countries, big or small, from which all of us benefit," he told a packed auditorium at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (Biiss), which is organising the two-day event.
He compared the current intraSaarc- (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) trade, which is merely 4 percent of its total cumulative trade, compared to that of 65 percent in the European Union and30 percent in Asean.
"During our thirteenth summit in Dhaka it would be the challenge before our seven countries to draw up a blueprint of action," he said, pledging, "We are serious to make the next decade of Saarc as a decade of concrete action."
Morshed stressed the need for Saarc countries to close their ranks to face the challenges of globalisation by harnessing "our collective strength to make our voices heard on issues that concern us." He felt it was necessary to achieve this in order io create societies and economies that would not be ignored on the global stage.
The foreign minister put stress on resolving outstanding differences on regional free trade as a crucial step to implement the South Asian Free TYade Area (Safta) by
January2006, and to proceed further towards a more "ambitious goal of creating a South Asian economic union (SAEU)."
Asking countries to shed past differences, which impinge on the Saarc objectives, Morshed urged the seven Saarc member countries to emphasise "on what we can achieve together than on being tied to the past."
Outlining plans for more concrete actions, Morshed said, "’Hie emphasis should be on regional projects and programmes that would complement national efforts."
He also asked for robust action on energy, science and technology to be pursued with relentless efforts by all the members.
Biiss Chairman Mufleh R Osmany chaired the inaugural session and Biiss Director General M Abdul Matin presented the address of welcome.
In the subsequent two sessions of the opening day, speakers drew parallels between the European and South Asian integration to depict political forces and economic opportunities and constraints interacting in the gradual designing ofSaarc.
Former chief adviser to interim government Justice Latifur Rahman chaired the first session on 'Political Vision of Saarc in the Third Decade' while Professor Muzaffar Ahmad chaired the second session on 'Socio-CulturalVision ofSaarc in the Third Decade'.
Former Pakistani foreign secretary Niaz Naik also addressed the first day of the seminar, with many diplomats and eminent South Asian personalities attending.