Regional conference on broadening economic integration in South Asia

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) together with UNDP Regional

Centre in Colombo (UNDP-RCC) will be organising a Conference on Broadening Economic Integration in South Asia: Incorporating Services Liberalisation at a Time of Global Economic Crisis on 30th and 31st March 2009 at Crystal Room – Upper, Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo.
The objective of the conference is to facilitate informed discussion and consultations on the way forward for the SAARC countries’ engagement in negotiations of trade in services under SAFTA.
The conference would be a first of its kind and would seek to develop broad contours of a plausible negotiating agenda for liberalising trade in services which can have beneficial employment and human development impacts in the region. Furthermore, the conference will serve as a forum for other stakeholders in civil society, government, academia, and the private sector to debate contending views on this topical issue.
The overall result would see South Asian policymakers having a better understanding of the different interests in liberalisation of services, and as a result help policy makers to approach the negotiations in a more productive and useful manner.
A booked titled “Trade in Services in South Asia: Opportunities & Risks of Liberalisation” will be launched at the ceremonial inauguration of the conference on March 30. Nihal Rodrigo, Advisor to the President on Foreign Affairs & former Director General – SAARC will be the guest of honour.
Broader subject areas of some of the sessions include: Services liberalisation and domestic regulation – At a time of global economic crisis; Key services sectors for liberalisation in South Asia; Services liberalisation in SAFTA; Challenges of liberalising trade in services in South Asia; Liberalising trade in services and economic growth; Regional and international experience of liberalisation of services and Negotiation modalities. These subjects will be dealt by a host of international and regional experts.
The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore’s Professor of Economics Rupa Chanda will present the way forward on the final day of the conference.