Regional Conference on Deepening South Asian Economic Integration
July 24, 2008, New Delhi

Speech by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble External Affairs Minister

I am happy to participate in this important Conference today. This event is taking place just before the 15th SAARC Summit being held in Colombo next week. The launch of the South Asia Development and Cooperation Report at this event is therefore most timely. I have gone through the Report and find that a lot of ideas on strengthening trade, transport infrastructure and energy security are already being addressed vigorously in SAARC.

It is with a sense of satisfaction that India will hand over the Chair of SAARC to Sri Lanka. I think that we have kept our commitment made at the 14th Summit of moving SAARC from declaration to implementation. This is evident in a number of areas.

I am pleased to inform you that with the negotiations on the SDF having been finalized and its Interim Cell set up at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, projects have been launched for benefiting the most needy in South Asia. India has also transferred the first tranche of 19.2 million dollars out of our assessed contribution for this purpose. In addition to our assessed contribution of nearly 100 million dollars, we also propose to transfer the entire amount of 100 million dollars of our voluntary contribution within this financial year.

We have also accelerated the establishment of the Project Office of the South Asian University. Prof. G.K. Chaddha, an eminent academic and former Vice-Chancellor of Jawahar Lal Nehru University has been appointed the CEO of the Project Office. Land for the University has been identified near the Indira Gandhi National Open University, and we are in the process of acquiring it. The necessary Bill, Headquarters Agreement with India, etc., are in various stages of finalisation within the Government and are expected to be processed shortly.

It is with the objective of deepening South Asian Integration that we proposed the theme of connectivity for the 14th SAARC Summit. I believe that SAARC is driven by people. A sample of their involvement and commitment to the economic development of South Asia was seen at the enthusiastic response to the SAARC Car Rally, Bands Festival, Cultural Festival, Textiles Exhibition and Fashion Show. The tremendous show of support by the people of SAARC has encouraged us to replicate such festivals this year as well and take them to other cities of India.

We have also upgraded our railway linkages up to the border points of Raxaul-Birganj and Jogbani-Biratnagar, as identified in the SAARC Transport Ministers Meeting held last year. We propose to also accelerate the upgradation of the road at Akhaura-Agartala border point shortly. The member states have also commented favourably on our draft Regional Motor Vehicles and Railway Agreement. I look forward to its finalization in September 2008 at the 2nd Transport Ministers Meeting in Colombo. I hope the Agreement will accelerate seamless travel from Kabul to Male.

Regarding sub-regional projects on key areas of food, water, energy and environment, our policy of non-reciprocally initiating these projects, using a hub-and-spoke mechanism, has generated enthusiasm among SAARC member states. The projects on tele-medicine, tele-education, rainwater-harvesting, etc., are in various stages of implementation. SAARC member states have appreciated our role in initiating these projects.

While development projects bring benefits to those that most require it, SAARC Governments have a collective responsibility to ensure that growth and development within the region takes place in a crime-free atmosphere where people feel secure. The recent bomb blast in Kabul that targeted our Embassy emphasizes how vulnerable South Asia continues to be to terrorism. We have initiated discussions on a draft Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. This will enable us to implement actions against such crimes in the neighbourhood with regional cooperation. I am confident that discussions on it will be finalized at the forthcoming Summit.

While strengthening its intra-regional links, SAARC is also strengthening its global links through the observers. We expect to discuss guidelines for our interaction with them at the forthcoming Summit to ensure that our engagement is on equal terms without loss of our unique cultural and historic identity.

As we prepare to leave for the 15th SAARC Summit, we go with a sense of dedication and purpose. With SAARC stepping firmly into the implementation phase, I look forward to the deliberations of the 15th Summit. I have no doubt that the momentum of this transformation will continue for the benefit of all South Asians. The Report released today highlights this theme. I do urge the learned experts to go through it, keeping in mind the vision laid by the founding members of SAARC, namely, connectivity without loss of our identity.

Thank you.