H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) addressed the Special Meeting on Non-tariff Measures (NTMs) and Para-tariff Measures (PTMs) convened at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu today.

The Special Meeting brought together representatives of all the Member States of SAARC to discuss measures to dismantle all barriers to trade under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Agreement. Office bearers of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) were also present at the meeting.

Addressing the opening of the Special Meeting at the Secretariat, the Secretary-General said, “I am glad to note that the Seventh Meeting of the SAFTA Committee of Experts (COE) held in Islamabad after the Seventeenth SAARC Summit, while considering matters relating to NTBs and PTBs, recommended that it would be necessary to hold a Special Meeting of the SAFTA COE on NTMs and PTMs. This meeting, I hope, will effectively address the objectives and concerns of the SAARC Leaders with regard to non-tariff and para-tariff barriers.”

The Special Meeting takes place in the lead up to the next meeting of the SAFTA Ministerial Council scheduled for 23 August 2013 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Council comprising Finance Ministers of SAARC Member States is the highest decision-making body of SAFTA and is responsible for its administration and implementation. The SAFTA Agreement signed on 6 January 2004 came into force with effect from 1 January 2006.

At the Seventeenth SAARC Summit held in the Maldives in November 2011, SAARC Leaders had directed the SAFTA Ministerial Council to intensify efforts to fully and effectively implement SAFTA through early resolution of non-tariff barriers.

The Special Meeting was preceded by a Session of the Working Group on Reduction of Sensitive Lists under SAFTA at the SAARC Secretariat on 30 July 2013.

H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) called on H. E. Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa, the newly appointed Foreign Secretary of Nepal at the latter’s office today.

During the call-on, the Secretary-General felicitated H. E. Mr. Thapa on his elevation to the position of Foreign Secretary with effect from 22 July 2013. Prior to this appointment, H. E. Mr. Thapa was Joint Secretary dealing with SAARC and the Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry.

The Secretary-General also congratulated H. E. Mr. Thapa on joining the distinguished fraternity of the SAARC Standing Committee by virtue of this appointment. The Standing Committee comprises Foreign Secretaries of the eight Member States and is an important policy-making body of the Association.

During the meeting, the Secretary-General briefed the Foreign Secretary on the current status of regional cooperation. The Secretary-General sought the support of Nepal in convening the inter-Summit Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers, which has been postponed for several times as the dates announced by the Maldives, as the current Chair, were found inconvenient to one or the other Member State.  He also expressed the confidence that the convening of the inter-Summit Session of the Council will also pave the way for the Eighteenth SAARC Summit to be hosted by Nepal in the near future.

Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General thanked the Government of Nepal for hosting the SAARC Secretariat and extending all possible support and cooperation to facilitate its smooth functioning.

Welcoming the gesture of the Secretary-General, the Foreign Secretary thanked the Secretary-General for his warm sentiments on his appointment. He also thanked the Secretary-General for his exemplary leadership in guiding the affairs of SAARC and its Secretariat. He reciprocated the Secretary-General’s concerns on the need to convene early the inter-Summit Session of the Council to clear the backlog of work resulting out of its frequent postponements. As a founding member of SAARC and the host of the SAARC Secretariat, Nepal is committed to extend support not only to the Secretariat but to the SAARC process as a whole, the Foreign Secretary asserted. 

Mr. Ibrahim Zuhuree, Director, SAARC Secretariat was also present at the meeting.

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General, SAARC called on H.E. Mr. Jayant Prasad, Ambassador of India to Nepal today and expressed that he and his colleagues at the SAARC Secretariat were deeply saddened over the loss of many lives and damage to the colossal property, caused by the recent floods in the Indian State of Uttrakhand.   He conveyed his deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved families.  

Secretary-General praised the bravery and unity that the people of India have demonstrated at these tragic moments and expressed confidence that the country and the people of India would soon be able to overcome the sufferings caused by this unprecedented calamity.

Secretary-General also presented a Cheque for US$1249 to the Ambassador of India, as a token of contribution from the officials of the SAARC Secretariat, to the Indian Government’s Relief Fund.

It may be recalled that the Secretary-General had also recently met the Foreign Secretary of Nepal and donated a sum of US$1249/- to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, Nepal.

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General, SAARC called on H.E. Mr. Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Foreign Secretary of Nepal today and expressed that he and his colleagues at the SAARC Secretariat were deeply saddened over the loss of many lives and damage to the colossal property, caused by the recent floods in the western region of Nepal.

He conveyed his deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved families. Secretary-General praised the bravery and unity that the People of Nepal have demonstrated at these tragic moments and expressed confidence that the Country and the people of Nepal would soon be able to overcome the sufferings caused by this unprecedented calamity.

Secretary-General also presented a Cheque for US$1249 to the Foreign Secretary of Nepal, as a token of contribution from the officials of the SAARC Secretariat, to the Nepal Government’s Relief Fund.