BIMSTEC meet fails to announce date for implementing free trade pact; Nepal to lead BIMSTEC to poverty alleviation
Nepalnews.com, Nepal
BIMSTEC meet fails to announce date for implementing free trade pact; Nepal to lead BIMSTEC to poverty alleviation
10 August 2006
The ninth ministerial meet of the BIMSTEC failed to announce the date for implementing the already agreed upon free trade agreement.
Earlier, the bloc had decided to implement it with effect from June 1, 2006.
The joint declaration of the high-level government officials’ meeting on Tuesday and the ministerial meet on Wednesday stated that the free trade pact will only be finalized before the second BIMSTEC summit.
According to reports, the meeting also decided to hold a second summit meeting in India on February 8, 2007 to mark a decade of the establishment of BIMSTEC.
The meeting welcomed the proposal forwarded by the Finance Minister of Nepal, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, to jointly fight against poverty by the BIMSTEC group of nations and elected Nepal to lead the group in this regard.
The meeting also decided to hold the second phase of round table meet in Kathmandu in August for development of tourism.
The meet hailed Thailand’s decision to continue economic assistance to the BIMSTEC centre till 2007.
The meeting concluded with a decision to hold the 10th ministerial meet in India again and electing Indian External State Minister E Ahmed as its chairman.
