India ready to open its market to SAARC without reciprocity
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
SHIMLA, June 4 (PTI): Favouring dismantling of barriers restricting trade and investment among SAARC countries, India yesterday said it is ready to open up its market without insisting on reciprocity and "proactively" address "whatever differences" with neighbours.
Addressing a gathering of parliamentarians from eight SAARC countries here, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee underlined the need for pooling in of complementarities and revival of intra-region connectivity to enable South Asia to emerge as a major economic power house.
Referring to South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and SAARC Development Fund (SDF), he said these can create opportunities for exploiting synergies based on comparative advantages , increased intra-regional trade and cross-border infrastructure projects.
"As the largest country in the region, India is ready to accept asymmetrical responsibilities, including opening up markets to South Asian neighbours without insisting on reciprocity," Mukherjee said in his keynote address on the concluding day of the meeting organized by South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).
Mukherjee said South Asia is on the threshold of a historical moment and "collectively we stand a good chance of transforming the economic conditions of our people and in the development of human civilisation in the 21st century".
India favours dismantling of barriers among SAARC countries on movement of goods and investments besides people to realise the full potential of South Asia, Mukherjee said.
"It is with this perspective that India has extended its hand of friendship and cooperation to all neighbours and proactively addresses whatever differences there may be", he said.
Continued to page 7 Col. 2
Addressing a gathering of parliamentarians from eight SAARC countries here, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee underlined the need for pooling in of complementarities and revival of intra-region connectivity to enable South Asia to emerge as a major economic power house.
Referring to South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and SAARC Development Fund (SDF), he said these can create opportunities for exploiting synergies based on comparative advantages , increased intra-regional trade and cross-border infrastructure projects.
"As the largest country in the region, India is ready to accept asymmetrical responsibilities, including opening up markets to South Asian neighbours without insisting on reciprocity," Mukherjee said in his keynote address on the concluding day of the meeting organized by South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).
Mukherjee said South Asia is on the threshold of a historical moment and "collectively we stand a good chance of transforming the economic conditions of our people and in the development of human civilisation in the 21st century".
India favours dismantling of barriers among SAARC countries on movement of goods and investments besides people to realise the full potential of South Asia, Mukherjee said.
"It is with this perspective that India has extended its hand of friendship and cooperation to all neighbours and proactively addresses whatever differences there may be", he said.
Continued to page 7 Col. 2