|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 28 July 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
SAARC Chamber chief calls for closer ties within the region The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Macky Hashim expressed his deep gratitude at the prompt action taken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kadirgamar. Hashim who met Nihal Abeysekera, President, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and Vice President FCCISL Kosala Wickramanayake earlier this month at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed many areas concerning the SAARC region. He called upon the Minister to set up a SAARC Sector line at the Immigration Desk in the Bandaranaike International Airport to recognise those travelling from the SAARC region. Hashim and Abeysekera expressed their appreciation to the Minister of Defence as well as the Foreign Minister for taking this bold step. Apart from Nepal due to the establishment of SAARC Secretariat no other SAARC country has taken the initiative to recognise its peoples as forming one community. This concept was championed by Sri Lanka by this proactive stand taken by Sri Lanka in paving the way for other SAARC countries to follow suit. The Acting President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Arshad Alam, on a recent visit called for closer ties with Sri Lanka and also expressed his appreciation of recognising the SAARC members by Sri Lanka and the active involvement in bringing the focus of mutual cooperation to the SAARC. Hashim returned to Sri Lanka after attending the Regional Conference organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies in Dhaka as a resource person where he spoke of implementing the SAFTA Agreement: Challenges and Possible Road Map. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
