Speech by
Hon'ble Foreign Minister
Mr. M. Morshed Khan, MP
as
Chief Guest

At the
Pre-SAARC Summit Dialogue
Organized by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)

Dhaka, 09 November 2005

Bismillahir - Rahmanir - Rahim

Distinguished Chairman,
Excellencies,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Assalamu-alaikum.

It gives me immense pleasure to be with you at this Pre-Summit Dialogue organized by the Centre for Policy Dialogue.

The Dialogue provides a valuable opportunity to share ideas on how we can carry forward regional cooperation in South Asia in a tangible way.

Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

South Asia is uniquely poised to enter a new phase of growth and prosperity. The expansion of democracy, economic reform, market liberalisation, enhanced agricultural and industrial production and advances in science and technology have all combined to open the door for widespread interaction with the rest of the world. There is huge business and commercial opportunity. It is already being said that this new century and millennium marks the coming of age of South Asia. There is today a sense of renewed confidence and self-reliance in our ability to change our destiny and realize the hopes and aspirations of our people.

South Asia remains however, a region with the largest concentration of the world's poor. Our intra-regional trade is minimal and we are yet to overcome major obstacles that impede broad based economic and social progress. A qualitative change in this situation calls for significant acceleration of targeted development programmes in our countries. More importantly we need to accelerate the pace of regional cooperation to realize the true potential of South Asia. The 13th SAARC Summit is an important watershed for progress by seizing upon the benefits of constructive regional cooperation. I am confident that this dialogue will reconfirm the relevance of regional cooperation among our countries and identify concrete ways in which we can make it a vital instrument for our region's collective progress.

Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to focus on a few indicative directions. We must recognize that to make regional cooperation truly meaningful for our countries and peoples there should be an increased emphasis on reaching some concrete and strategic benchmarks. Intent must be accompanied by a will to implement specific solutions and objectives.

There must be a renewed commitment to significantly reduce poverty in South Asia. This requires a combination of national and regional initiatives that spur growth, ensure that such growth is pro-poor and has a multiplier impact that promotes further growth opportunities. Poverty alleviation requires that South Asian countries concentrate on conditions that meet the legitimate concerns of the poor, enhance their access to productive assets and associate them more fully into the decision-making process. Regional cooperation must complement national initiatives in this regard. Regional projects must benefit from best practices in the area. This summit will discuss modalities to put these thoughts into action.

A critical focus is to promote regional trade, and other supportive economic initiatives to contribute to our collective progress. SAARC countries have set themselves the ambitious objective of creating a South Asia Free Trade area (SAFTA) by January 2006. Realization of this objective is important. There is a need however, to go beyond narrow self interests. The challenge before us is to take bold steps toward trade liberalisation and decisive trade facilitation measures including standardisation and harmonization of products and rules and regulations covering trade, avoidance of multiple taxation and promotion and protection of investment.

Deepening and widening economic integration is a logical supplement to establishing a Free Trade Area. Investment particularly trade creating investment, strengthening infrastructure particularly transport and communication links, energy cooperation and ports, consolidating and enhancing trade in services are all part of a process that cumulatively leads to such advanced steps as a single currency, customs union, common market and ultimately a South Asian Economic Union. It goes without saying that each of these steps requires intense study of costs and benefits and mutuality of interest. They are paced by pragmatism, practicality and mutual advantage. They also need a good dose of political will. Yet the vision conforms to the overriding goal of SAARC, which is to improve the standards of living of the common South Asian man and woman.

Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

Personally I believe that the official SAARC process will be of tremendous benefit if it is complemented by parallel and specific initiatives by our professional bodies, chieftains of commerce and industries and representatives of academia as well as civil society leaders. The determining factor of whether regional cooperation in South Asia will progress at an accelerated pace goes beyond that of governments alone. The leadership of civil society, professionals and the business community is vital. A robust role played by you will immensely contribute in carrying the SAARC process forward. This you can do not only by highlighting the inherent logic underlying the process of regional cooperation but also by playing an advocacy role for effective implementation of decisions, programmes and projects of a regional character.

The time has come for us to think regionally at all levels, not as a substitute for our national initiatives to meet specific national objectives, but also as an essential supplement that actually makes achievement of our national objectives easier. There is a certain synergy of relationship between the two and this should encourage us to decisively act to strengthen the SAARC process. Our collective pursuit to promote our South Asian identity will no doubt complement this SAARC process. Our rich cultural diversity and common heritage provide us with a solid foundation in this regard.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have made many important pledges and commitments. Now it is time to demonstrate action. Let the third decade be a decade of implementation. This Summit will give important directives so that regional projects and programmes can be undertaken. Let us make SAARC more visible so that its activities can have discernible impact on the life of our common citizens. To me this is the most important element of our vision for the coming decade.

As the Chair of the Council of Ministers for the 13th SAARC Summit I remain deeply committed to take up this challenge.
I thank you all.

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