Experts suggest scrutiny of trade reforms implication
Monday, 24 December 2007
Siddique Islam Back from New Delhi
Trade experts have recommended scrutiny of implication of the trade reforms aiming to alleviate poverty through enhancement of employment opportunities in the South Asian countries, particularly in Bangladesh, India , Pakistan , Sri Lanka and Nepal.
"…The need has been arisen toward scrutinising the efficiency of administration, institutions and regulatory reforms in the region as well as in the countries of the South Asia," said a summary report on the recommendations of the South Asian Yearbook of Trade and Development 2007-08.
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath formally released the summary report in New Delhi on Wednesday last at the close of a seminar.
The seminar titled 'Harnessing Gains from Trade: Domestic Challenges and Beyond' was organised by the Centre for Trade and Development (CENTAD), a non-government think-tank.
"This is because the national policies on trade would impact competition and consumers and ultimately the welfare gains that would accrue from them," the report added.
The summary report seeks to analyse the composition of South Asian trade, especially on issues related to medical services, pharmaceuticals, labour polices, trade facilitation and agriculture.
"There is a need to examine the implications of the trade reforms in line with the previous experience in the South Asian countries," Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Mustafizur Rahman told the FE Sunday while explaining the need for examination of the trade reforms policies.
Mustafizur, who is also one of the editors of the report, said the analyses will provide insight into any further initiatives in these areas. "This will facilitate to pursue further policy measures for poverty alleviation and employment generation in the South Asian countries," he added.
The suspense at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations is yet not over. Discussions are still going on and a breakthrough is expected anytime, the CENTAD said in a background note.
"The reassuring part of the impasse is that developing countries are increasingly realising and believing in the pathways of trade and development," it said
It said most developing countries have benefited from this trade-induced growth momentum as a result of strong demand for their exports of primary commodities and, to an increasing extent, of manufactures. But the flip side of trade also seems to catch up, it added.
"Trade can usher in changes in the region but the domestic policies of countries need to gear themselves to meet the challenges of trade. This will be possible only if international trade rules too, are framed in a fair manner to provide legitimate opportunity to harness the gains from trade," the note said.
Trade experts have recommended scrutiny of implication of the trade reforms aiming to alleviate poverty through enhancement of employment opportunities in the South Asian countries, particularly in Bangladesh, India , Pakistan , Sri Lanka and Nepal.
"…The need has been arisen toward scrutinising the efficiency of administration, institutions and regulatory reforms in the region as well as in the countries of the South Asia," said a summary report on the recommendations of the South Asian Yearbook of Trade and Development 2007-08.
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath formally released the summary report in New Delhi on Wednesday last at the close of a seminar.
The seminar titled 'Harnessing Gains from Trade: Domestic Challenges and Beyond' was organised by the Centre for Trade and Development (CENTAD), a non-government think-tank.
"This is because the national policies on trade would impact competition and consumers and ultimately the welfare gains that would accrue from them," the report added.
The summary report seeks to analyse the composition of South Asian trade, especially on issues related to medical services, pharmaceuticals, labour polices, trade facilitation and agriculture.
"There is a need to examine the implications of the trade reforms in line with the previous experience in the South Asian countries," Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Mustafizur Rahman told the FE Sunday while explaining the need for examination of the trade reforms policies.
Mustafizur, who is also one of the editors of the report, said the analyses will provide insight into any further initiatives in these areas. "This will facilitate to pursue further policy measures for poverty alleviation and employment generation in the South Asian countries," he added.
The suspense at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations is yet not over. Discussions are still going on and a breakthrough is expected anytime, the CENTAD said in a background note.
"The reassuring part of the impasse is that developing countries are increasingly realising and believing in the pathways of trade and development," it said
It said most developing countries have benefited from this trade-induced growth momentum as a result of strong demand for their exports of primary commodities and, to an increasing extent, of manufactures. But the flip side of trade also seems to catch up, it added.
"Trade can usher in changes in the region but the domestic policies of countries need to gear themselves to meet the challenges of trade. This will be possible only if international trade rules too, are framed in a fair manner to provide legitimate opportunity to harness the gains from trade," the note said.