India suggests hosting of SAARC AIDS Conference

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India suggests making of Saarc High Economic Council

PTI [ TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2004 08:15:54 PM ]

ISLAMABAD: Emphasising that South Asia Free Trade Area (Safta) will

be the first successful step towards economic integration of the

region, India on Tuesday suggested setting up of a Saarc High

Economic Council to promote collaborative ideas and initiatives.

Addressing the Ministerial meeting of the regional forum here,

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh also proposed setting up of

a Sa Parliamentary Forum and expressed willingness to host a

conference on HIV/AIDS in India during the Saarc Awareness Year. " It

is our belief that SAFTA will be the first successful step in path of

economic integration. What we in Saarc decide today will determine

how we achieve our objective of moving towards a South Asian Economic

Union by 2020, " he said. In this context, he suggested that the

report of Saarc Eminent Persons' Group of 1998 be considered as the

roadmap to be followed. " We also feel that we should set up a Saarc

High Economic Council formed of the Finance and Commerce Ministers of

our member countries, " Singh said, adding the Council could promote

collaborative ideas and initiatives in economic, trade, investment,

financial and monetary areas.

While noting that India has made a number of recommendations to give substance

to its pledges of regional cooperation, Singh said a major area of focus for the

region is the goal of poverty alleviation leading to the complete

elimination of poverty in South Asia. He said the UPA government's

Common Minimum Programme had enunciated targets in areas such as

employment, health, education, empowerment of women, food and

nutrition and environment to enhance the welfare and well-being of

the people of India.

" It is in this spirit that India would like to promote Saarc cooperation in

collaborative projects for poverty alleviation, " the External Affairs Minster

said. Pointing out that the South Asian Poverty Alleviation Fund for which India

has offered USD 100 million could " help us to embark on the first collaborative

projects for poverty alleviation, " he said " at the same time, we

would need to look at means to replenish this fund so that poverty

alleviation schemes remain at the forfront of Saarc activities in the

coming decade. "

He said India was willing to host a conference on HIV/AIDS during the Saarc

Awareness Year and to offer training for paramedics as well as material support

in the form of medical vans and other equipment. Floating the idea of forming

Saarc Parliamentary Forum that could meet periodically to deliberate on issues

relevant to the regional cooperation endeavours, Singh said the

Parliamentarians can play a catalytic role by bringing into Saarc

processes the views of the people they represent. Singh said

infrastructure development was the key to economic growth and poverty

alleviation and a Saarc Infrastructural Fund with a ready and

substantial corpus will make the region more ready to embark on high

priority energy, communications and transportation projects, " which

will link our economies together. "

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