Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed proposed adopting a clear roadmap for SAARC to fight out poverty and hunger and attain accelerated economic growth to ensure socioeconomic progress for some 1.5 billion people in South Asia.
"South Asia is home to almost half of the world's poor. Global economic slowdown, soaring oil and food prices and growing threats of climate change are driving the destitute people of the region even further bellow the poverty line," he noted in his statement in the inaugural session of the 15th SAARC Summit at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in the Sri Lankan capital on Saturday morning.
Dr Ahmed said, "We must redouble our efforts to attain the SAARC Development goals within the targeted timeline. I believe national action on poverty alleviation should be complemented by effective and robust regional initiatives in order to have penetrative impact on poverty reduction in South Asia."
In his 20-minute speech from 11:45 am, the Chief Advisor touched on critical issues of food and energy security in the wake of a looming worldwide crisis, trade, climate change and terrorism.
He said the recent price hike of food globally, creating a situation close to food crisis, has led all to reflect deeply on how to ensure collective food security for the people of the region. "This requires our immediate attention to ensure constant and steady supply of food for our people."
The Chief Advisor stressed developing strategies not only to address short-term supply-side shocks but also to strengthen cooperation to increase agricultural productivity. "This is a must to prevent hunger and malnutrition- one of the key priorities of all nations and of the Millennium Development Goals."
He called for early ratification and operationalization of SAARC Food Bank to address the food shortages and meet exigencies.
Presided over by new SAARC Chairman Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the inaugural session of the summit meet of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was also addressed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmie Y. Thinley, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raja Gilani.
The outgoing SAARC Chairman, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, formally opened the summit at 11:05am and handed over the SAARC leadership to the Sri Lankan President. Under an extraordinary security blanket, the eight South Asian leaders arrived at the magnificent Bandaranaike Momorial Hall where Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa received the guests.
On the pivotal topic of trade, still held down due to procedural problems, the Chief Advisor said despite SAFTA being in place, non-tariff and para-tariff barriers, and complicated and cumbersome customs procedures stand in the way of greater intra-regional trade.
He pointed out that long sensitive list close to preferential tariffs and rigidities in other structural and policy frameworks stand in the way of people's desire to have a fully integrated South Asia.
"Clearly there is a need to remove these hurdles to enhance intra-regional trade," he told the inaugural function, also attended by representatives of SAARC observer-states, including the United States and the European Union from the western world.
Dr Ahmed noted that negotiation is about to start on a Framework Agreement on Trade in Services. This should pave the way for the trade liberalization that will be a "win-win situation" for all.
The Chief Advisor said pace of trade liberalization has been less than satisfactory. To move the process forward, it may be useful to set up a consultative mechanism which could identify the bottlenecks and suggest practical ways to move the process of trade liberalization towards Customs Union and finally to Economic Union.
Dr Ahmed said SAARC Development Fund (SDF) charter which will be signed at this summit would be an important instrument to implement regional projects that would yield concrete benefits for the member-states.
And establishment of South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) will be an important step towards trade facilitation and greater economic integration in the region.
Turning to the crunch on energy front-again a global phenomenon concomitant with food problem-Dr Ahmed said SAARC countries must explore all avenues of energy sharing, including bilateral, sub-regional and regional cooperation, for addressing the supply-side constraints in the region.
Bangladesh specifically suggested capacity building, technology transfer and infrastructure development in this sector.
The head of the caretaker government said in the wake of skyrocketing price of fossil fuels, the region must harness renewable sources of energy like hydropower, solar energy, biofuels and wind power to address the energy crisis.
"We should strive to develop conventional as well as alternate sources of energy to ensure its steady supply at affordable cost," he told the meet, adding "achieving energy security is a must to realize development potential of the region."
On impact of climate change, the Chief Advisor noted with concern that in South Asia, global warming is rendering natural disasters frequent and more intense, causing greater damage and devastation to life and property and livelihoods.
Referring to the SAARC Environment Ministers meeting in Dhaka last month, which adopted an action plan on climate change, he said this is the first step in the right direction.
It is the collective responsibility to save the planet for the present and futurity, he added.
About the problem of terrorism, the CA unequivocally announced that Bangladesh is committed against terrorism in its all forms and manifestations.
"Terrorists have perpetrated brutal acts in every part of the world. We condemn the heinous terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan in recent times which caused unnecessary loss of life and property."
Dr Ahmed said Bangladesh as a signatory to international conventions against terrorism, both globally and regionally, is in the process of enacting and modifying relevant domestic laws for their effective implementation at the national level.
He expressed satisfaction at the finalization of SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters which will be signed at this summit.
The CA said this legal instrument would provide meaningful cooperation among SAARC countries in fighting against all serious and organized crimes and acts of terrorism.
About Dhaka's proposal on structured contacts between the armed forces in SAARC countries, Dr Ahmed mentioned that on bilateral level such links do exist. The SAARC countries provide a huge majority of the world's peacekeepers.
He said it might be worthwhile to devise such a system that can periodically bring the senior officers of the region's armed forces together to determine how best mutual interests could be advanced. Under this scheme, the training facilities could also be shared.
On another common problem as regards labour migration, the Chief Advisor said SAARC countries provide vast numbers of workers to other parts of the world. This forum should collaborate to strengthen capacity to negotiate better terms and conditions of work for them to promote the workers' welfare and protect their rights.
Regarding the South Asian University being established in New Delhi, he said Bangladesh is considering establishing Dhaka Campus of the new-generation university soon.
Dr Ahmed said in this interdependent world, SAARC region can only prosper if the member-states act in unison to reap the facilities and remove the adversities.
"I believe there is a clear political will and commitment to realize this goal. Bangladesh remains deeply committed to making this happen."
The Chief Advisor said Bangladesh, wherefrom the grouping embarked on its journey over two decades back, would continue to play its part in building the future 'South Asian home' as a harmonious abode of peace, progress and prosperity for all the people of the region.
On the pivotal topic of trade, still held down due to procedural problems, the Chief Advisor said despite SAFTA being in place, non-tariff and para-tariff barriers, and complicated and cumbersome customs procedures stand in the way of greater intra-regional trade.
He pointed out that long sensitive list close to preferential tariffs and rigidities in other structural and policy frameworks stand in the way of people's desire to have a fully integrated South Asia.
"Clearly there is a need to remove these hurdles to enhance intra-regional trade," he told the inaugural function, also attended by representatives of SAARC observer-states, including the United States and the European Union from the western world.
Dr Ahmed noted that negotiation is about to start on a Framework Agreement on Trade in Services. This should pave the way for the trade liberalization that will be a "win-win situation" for all.
The Chief Advisor said pace of trade liberalization has been less than satisfactory. To move the process forward, it may be useful to set up a consultative mechanism which could identify the bottlenecks and suggest practical ways to move the process of trade liberalization towards Customs Union and finally to Economic Union.
Dr Ahmed said SAARC Development Fund (SDF) charter which will be signed at this summit would be an important instrument to implement regional projects that would yield concrete benefits for the member-states.
And establishment of South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) will be an important step towards trade facilitation and greater economic integration in the region.
Turning to the crunch on energy front-again a global phenomenon concomitant with food problem-Dr Ahmed said SAARC countries must explore all avenues of energy sharing, including bilateral, sub-regional and regional cooperation, for addressing the supply-side constraints in the region.
Bangladesh specifically suggested capacity building, technology transfer and infrastructure development in this sector.
The head of the caretaker government said in the wake of skyrocketing price of fossil fuels, the region must harness renewable sources of energy like hydropower, solar energy, biofuels and wind power to address the energy crisis.
"We should strive to develop conventional as well as alternate sources of energy to ensure its steady supply at affordable cost," he told the meet, adding "achieving energy security is a must to realize development potential of the region."
On impact of climate change, the Chief Advisor noted with concern that in South Asia, global warming is rendering natural disasters frequent and more intense, causing greater damage and devastation to life and property and livelihoods.
Referring to the SAARC Environment Ministers meeting in Dhaka last month, which adopted an action plan on climate change, he said this is the first step in the right direction.
It is the collective responsibility to save the planet for the present and futurity, he added.
About the problem of terrorism, the CA unequivocally announced that Bangladesh is committed against terrorism in its all forms and manifestations.
"Terrorists have perpetrated brutal acts in every part of the world. We condemn the heinous terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan in recent times which caused unnecessary loss of life and property."
Dr Ahmed said Bangladesh as a signatory to international conventions against terrorism, both globally and regionally, is in the process of enacting and modifying relevant domestic laws for their effective implementation at the national level.
He expressed satisfaction at the finalization of SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters which will be signed at this summit.
The CA said this legal instrument would provide meaningful cooperation among SAARC countries in fighting against all serious and organized crimes and acts of terrorism.
About Dhaka's proposal on structured contacts between the armed forces in SAARC countries, Dr Ahmed mentioned that on bilateral level such links do exist. The SAARC countries provide a huge majority of the world's peacekeepers.
He said it might be worthwhile to devise such a system that can periodically bring the senior officers of the region's armed forces together to determine how best mutual interests could be advanced. Under this scheme, the training facilities could also be shared.
On another common problem as regards labour migration, the Chief Advisor said SAARC countries provide vast numbers of workers to other parts of the world. This forum should collaborate to strengthen capacity to negotiate better terms and conditions of work for them to promote the workers' welfare and protect their rights.
Regarding the South Asian University being established in New Delhi, he said Bangladesh is considering establishing Dhaka Campus of the new-generation university soon.
Dr Ahmed said in this interdependent world, SAARC region can only prosper if the member-states act in unison to reap the facilities and remove the adversities.
"I believe there is a clear political will and commitment to realize this goal. Bangladesh remains deeply committed to making this happen."
The Chief Advisor said Bangladesh, wherefrom the grouping embarked on its journey over two decades back, would continue to play its part in building the future 'South Asian home' as a harmonious abode of peace, progress and prosperity for all the people of the region.
Subject: CA for regional initiatives to reduce poverty 
Sun Aug 03, 2008 1:00 pm
