Regional Economic Cooperation In South Asia National Consultation Bangladesh

regional economic cooperation in south asia national consultation, bangladesh november 21-23, 2005 theme: exploring avenues for enhanc

Regional Economic Cooperation in South Asia
National Consultation, Bangladesh
November 21-23, 2005
Theme: Exploring avenues for enhancing the regional economic
cooperation in South Asia
Objective: To engage stakeholder participation in regional trade
initiatives and promote policy responses that would be inclusive of
stakeholder preferences.
Background: The South Asian region has always been of great interest
in terms of geo-political maneuvers. A region with large economic
disparities has off late taken center-stage with the rapid and
seemingly sustainable moves towards enduring peace and the enhanced
economic cooperation.
Despite the apparent failure of multilateral engagement in economic
cooperation and the fillip given to regionalism, world-wide; the
South-Asian region has been somewhat of a laggard in terms of economic
engagement. Current events in the sub-continent indicate a move
towards more peaceful times to come. Trade and economics can obviously
flourish only in times of peace. Rather it’s a peace dividend. The
players in this arena, therefore, need to be more sensitive to this
reality.
In this light, faster economic co-operation, seems like a panacea.
However, mere government-government initiatives are somewhat
inadequate, because eventually it’s the people who are the ones
impacted and unless society-to- society engagement doesn’t take off,
the fruits of development will not have the necessary social sanction
and impact. Social sanction may not be sufficient but it is necessary
to make this engagement work.
With the world around moving at break-neck speed towards economic
cooperation in whatever-manner and at-whatever cost, the time seems
limited. If regional cooperation does not get sufficient momentum, one
may just miss the bus for good.
Therefore, Government apart, civil society, intelligentsia, business
community, the NGOs - all who have interests, and are interested must
emphatically promote awareness about the need and advantage of
regional cooperation.
Context
The project Regional Economic Cooperation in South Asia endeavours to
assess the present status of this regional bloc and analyse the future
prospects of economic Cooperation in South Asia. An effort will be
made to bring together like-minded people and find out their opinion
on South Asian Economic Trade. This will be carried out by organising
a series of meetings in major South-Asian countries and gather
people’s opinion on how to enhance the regional cooperation within
this region. This project undertaken by CUTS-CITEE, is being supported
by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, India (FES India).
The Event
The event is designed to involve business representatives, government,
civil society representatives and academics primarily from Bangladesh
to create an awareness and momentum towards regional cooperation in a
way that is expected to influence the future policy direction on trade
and investment promotion within the country and amongst other South
Asian countries.
The National Consultation in Bangladesh is being jointly organized by
CUTS-CITEE, FES-India, Unnayan Shamannay, Bangladesh and the
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
Tentative Agenda: Bangladesh Consultation
Day I : 21st November 2005
Venue: TBC*
6.00 – 7.00 pm
Registration
Distribution of handouts, folders etc
7.00 – 7.30 pm
Introduction
About the project, Launch meeting, Suggestions of Colombo round
table.
Manfred Haack, FES-India
Prasad P. Ranade, CUTS, India
Representative from Unnayan Shamannay
7.30 – 8.30 pm
Cocktails
8.30-10.30 pm
Dinner
Day II: 22nd November 2005
Venue: TBC*
9.00 –10.15 am
Session I
SAPTA in the light of Bilateral FTA's
10.15 – 10.30 am
Tea
10.30 – 11.45 am
Session II
Energy Security
12.00 – 1.15 pm
Session III
Investment and finance
1.15 – 2.45 pm
Lunch
2.45 – 4.00 pm
Session IV
Attaining the MDG's
4.00 – 4.15 pm
Tea Break
4.15 – 5.30 pm
Session V
Trade facilitation measures
Day III: 23rd November 2005
Venue: TBC*
9.00 – 10.15 am
Session VI
Infrastructure
10.15 – 10.30 am
Tea Break
10.30 - 11.15 am
Session VI
Business to Business engagement - how and why
11.15 – 1.15 pm
Session VII
Wrap-up and future plan of action
1.15 – 2.45 pm
Lunch
Venue: TBC*
Contact: TBC*
*TBC: To be confirmed