Industry Minister Yadav stresses early convening of 19th SAARC Summit

Kathmandu, June 19/ Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav has stressed the early convening of the 19th SAARC Summit.

The Minister said this during a meeting with Secretary General of SAARC, Amjad Hussian B Sial on Monday. The secretary-general had called on Minister Yadav at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar.During the meeting, the secretary-general felicitated the Minister on his assumption of the office and expressed good wishes for success in his important assignment, the SAARC Secretariat stated in a press release.

While reiterating Nepal’s commitment to the SAARC process, Minister Yadav underscored the need for the early convening of 19th SAARC Summit. He further stated that Prime Minister of Nepal, as the current Chair of SAARC, has been in consultation with the other member states to create an environment conducive for the early convening of the Summit.

The Minister highlighted the need for enhanced intra-regional trade and economic cooperation for the promotion of welfare of the people and socio-economic development in the region. Referring to the low level of intra-regional trade and economic cooperation, the Minister stated that the meetings of the SAFTA Ministerial Council, SAFTA Committee of Experts, and Committee on Economic Cooperation should be convened early to facilitate trade and economic cooperation in the region.

The secretary-general also expressed appreciation towards the government of Nepal for its unflinching commitment to the SAARC process and endeavours being made by the Prime Minister of Nepal for the early convening of the 19th SAARC Summit. He briefed the Minister on the status of cooperation in trade and economic areas under the auspices of SAARC.

The Secretary emphasised the need for an enhanced level of economic cooperation and trade within the SAARC region to promote socio-economic development, which is deemed essential for the well-being of people of South Asia, which, he added is one of the cardinal objectives of SAARC.

He also underlined the importance of enhanced connectivity and facilitation of visa in order to promote economic relations, people-to-people contacts and tourism in the region, and thanked the Government of Nepal for its valuable support to the Secretariat. RSS