External Affairs Minister Prof G. L. Peiris delivered the inaugural address as chief guest at the conference on trade facilitation in South Asia, organized by the SAARC Federation of Commerce and Industry at the Taj Samudra Hotel recently.
External Affairs Minister Prof G. L. Peiris with delegates
Noting the need to enhance volumes of trade within the SAARC region, the minister identified some of the principal constraints. These include non tariff barriers like technical and health certification requirements, quantitative restrictions, the lack of uniformity of import licensing and registering procedures, the inadequacy of transit facilities and the absence of harmonization of customs clearance procedures and customs classifications.
Prof. Peiris stressed the importance of a single document for clearance of goods among Member States, electronic data transmission systems and single window authorization.
He said that the business leaders of the SAARC countries have a major role to play in highlighting the need for action in this regard.
Connectivity is a crucial element in this regard, he added. President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vikramjit Singh Sahney and President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka Kumar Mallimaratchi presided.
Participants from the SAARC countries included exporters, public sector policy makers, members of the academic community and journalists.
Source: Daily News
