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.
