SAARC CCI Conference on South Asia: Shaping the New Paradigm for Growth

SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SAARCCCI) of Islamabad, Pakistan in collaboration with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) conducted the SAARC CCI Conference on South Asia: Shaping the New Paradigm for Growth on 3 June at Hotel Turyaa Kalutara. The conference was themed on Securing South Asia’s Energy Future and Moving South Asia Forward with the SAARC Motor Vehicle and Railways Agreement.

45 delegates from SAARC Countries, top officials of SAARC Secretariat, government officials, officials of SAARC CCI, academicians and business leaders of participating countries of SAARC regional block participated at the forum.

The discussion was held on energy projects which could suffix the energy deficit of each SAARC country and how success of each energy project could benefit the SAARC region as a whole. At the session on the motor vehicle and railways agreement it was discussed how the seamless movement of people and vehicle will reduce the cost of logistics and benefit intra-regional trade.

Sessions on Energy was moderated by SAARC CCI Former President Dehabandu Macky Hashim and SAARC CCI (India) Vice President Vinod Junia moderated the session on SAARC Motor Vehicle and Railways Agreement. SAARC CCI President Suraj Vaidya, SAARC CCI Senior Vice President Ajith Wattuhewa and FCCISL President Sarath Kahaopalarchci too addressed the conference.

Suraj Vaidya emphasised the fact that SAARC region is the least economically integrated block in the world though nearly 23% of global population lives within the region. He sees the lack of connectivity as the major obstacle to improve trade and investment and as a part of the SAARC CCI strategy will put up a sub-regional office in Colombo followed by offices in Mumbai and Dhaka. 

Further he said measures must be taken to ratify the important SAARC Motor Vehicle and Railways Agreement to unleash the potential within South Asia. 

He even proposed to create SAARC Industrial Parks in each SAARC country to promote friendship and fraternity and thanked the government of Pakistan and Afghanistan for granting land to set up SAARC Industrial Parks in their countries. 

He also shared the six-point agenda of SAARC CCI for year 2016-2017 which is to promote trade, investment, tourism, economic prosperity and connectivity. 

The findings of the conference will be presented at the upcoming SAARC Summit to the Heads of State in November in Islamabad, Pakistan.