18th December, 2002
Ministry of Commerce & Industry  


SHOURIE TO ATTEND 5th BIMST-EC MINISTERIAL MEETING IN COLOMBO


Shri Arun Shourie, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Disinvestment and the North East, will represent India in the 5th BIMST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka & Thailand Economic Cooperation) Ministerial Meeting to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 20th December, 2002. This is the first meeting of BIMST-EC to be held at the full Ministerial level to exploit the high potential for cooperation existing in the BIMST region.

During the meeting, discussions will take place on the ESCAP studies regarding prospects for BIMST-EC Cooperation in textiles and clothing following the abolition of the Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA) and Trade Facilitation amongst BIMST-EC countries. The meeting of the senior officials of the participating countries will also be held on 18th & 19th December, 2002.

The Economic Forum meeting held on 17th December, 2002, deliberated on the recommendations of the 4th BIMST-EC Trade & Economic Ministers’ Meeting to further regional cooperation in the areas of priority interest.

It is expected that the meeting will take key decisions to make a vital contribution to the socio-economic development of this region.