KARACHI - "Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and bureaucratic procedures are real impediments to the implementation of SAFTA in true perspective therefore the Governments of the respective countries of the region need to enter into policy implementation phase instead of policy formulation". This was stated by Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of International Trade and Export Development of the Government of Sri Lanka in his inaugural address on Roundtable on SAFTA on the topic of "Efforts for Trade Liberalization in South Asia & Way Forward". The Roundtable was organized by SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Collaboration with Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), supported by Friedrich Naumann Foundation at Colombo, Sri Lanka on Nov 28 on Friday. The Sri Lankan Minister urged upon the respective Governments to play their due role in removal of barriers in real spirit and stressed upon the need for adopting practical modalities with pragmatic and practical approach. He said that though SAFTA had become operational since July 2006, the implementation pace was too slow to achieve the objectives within specific time frame. "Due to disparity of scales, the fear perception of small countries was right" said Minister however added that the practical evidence have shown that FTA with bigger countries had been more useful for comparatively small countries. He emphasised for promoting intra-regional FDI, which was a two-way measure to enhance economic cooperation in the region. Earlier M Iqbal Tabish in his introductory remarks highlighted the importance of SAFTA particularly in view of the 15th SAARC Summit which had broadened the ambit of SAFTA after inclusion of Service sector. He asserted the need for enhancement of role of civil society and representation of SAARC CCI in the deliberations and meeting of SAARC held at secretary and ministerial levels. Kosala Wickramanayake, President FCCISL, appreciated the SCCI for gearing up activities, befitting to the entire business community of the South Asia. Macky Hashim, Past President SCCI and FCCISL said that liberalization was important forerunner of Economic Development. Though the SAFTA has been launched more than a decade ago, it has not made such a progress on trade liberalisation in South Asia. The inaugural session was followed by technical session on removal of irritants/bottlenecks from Trade under SAFTA: country initiatives, which was chaired by Mackey Hashim while presenters like Kazi Mahmudur Rehman, Senior Research Associate, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CDP), Bangladesh, Ms. Nisha Taneja, Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations-India and Dr. Deshal De Mel Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies Sri Lanka gave presentation on the subject matter and after identification of barriers gave policy suggestions as well.