Saarc meet ends with vow to implement Safta

South Asian leaders pledged to implement the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) by removing trade barriers and giving special consideration to the bloc’s least developed countries (LDCs), at the closing session of the 15th Saarc Summit in Colombo yesterday.

The 41-point Colombo Declaration adopted at the concluding session at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall focused on collective regional efforts in core areas: food, energy security, trade, combating terrorism and climate change.

It also embraced connectivity, partnership for growth for the peoples of the region, environment, water resources, poverty alleviation, SDF, transport, ICT development and Saarc social charter.

In the communiqué, the Saarc leaders recognised the need to continue to address the major barriers hindering effective trade liberalisation in the region, which include sensitive lists of items and non-trade barriers (NTBs).

They underscored the need for implementing the decision by the Safta Ministerial Council (SMC) to revise the sensitive lists at the earliest but agreed to give special consideration to the Saarc LDCs when adjusting them.

They directed the Safta experts committee to expeditiously resolve the issues concerning non-tariff and para-tariff measures to facilitate and enhance trade under the mooted free-trade regime.

Chaired by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the final session was attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bangladesh Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani.

The Saarc leaders renewed their commitment for collective regional efforts to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development which would promote the welfare of the South Asian peoples and improve their quality of life, contributing to regional peace, stability, amity and progress.

On the war on terror, they expressed deep concern over the “serious threat posed by terrorism to the peace, stability and security of the region.”

They emphasised the need for strongest possible cooperation, exchange of information in particular, among relevant agencies of the member-states in order to fight terrorism and transnational organised crimes.

Appreciating the Saarc Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters signed at the 15th summit, the leaders urged early ratification and implementation of the new common instrument for combating crimes.