Enhanced trade ties must to solve problems of SAsia

LAHORE- The SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has stressed the member states to boost regional trade and investment to overcome food shortage and alleviate poverty and unemployment, which is a common snag in the economic and social uplift of the region, as the eight nations are meeting in Colombo to discuss issues including terrorism and poverty.

The SCCI also urged the member countries to enhance trade and economic ties to improve the agriculture, industrial and health sectors in the region.

“The SAARC countries can overcome food shortage and also resolve other economic problems through better trade and economic ties by taking confidence building measures. The SAARC countries should work on the pattern of European Unions to improve the economic conditions of the people in the region, said Iftikhar Ali Malik Vice President SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry here on Saturday.

Talking to The Nation, he stressed that both India and Pakistan should improve regional economic growth and cooperation with letter and spirit. He said that in addition to political mediation, economic diplomacy was also required to shift the priorities and achieve the objectives for which SAARC was created.