Tuesday, December 20 2005 09:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: A one-day ministerial meeting of the BIMSTEC ended yesterday (Dec 19, 2005) in the Bangladeshi capital with the sub-regional grouping, including India, reaching an agreement to beef up cooperation in counter-terrorism and relaxing the visa regime.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan told reporters at the end of the meet that they decided to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism and trans-nation crimes in a bid to combat terror, which is a global problem.

"We discussed the report of the joint working group on terrorism and expressed satisfaction over the progress of work, while two sub-groups are working to prepare reports on intelligence sharing and stopping terror financing," he said adding they previously held meetings in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand on the subjects.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed represented India at the eighth meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The group, founded in 1997, comprises Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand and is scheduled to enter a FTA from July 1, 2006.

On trans-national crimes, the Group is working on how to check illicit trafficking in humans, drugs as well as narcotics and explosive substances, Khan said.

About relaxation of visa regime, he said the group agreed to boost trade, tourism and people-to-people contacts within the region. "We've all come to a conclusion that this is a necessity that our people should move freely within the BIMSTEC region - tourism and people-to-people contact cannot be enhanced unless the visa regime is relaxed," he said.

Khan, who chaired the ministerial meeting, said member-countries would now discuss the issue at their inter-ministerial meetings and informs the current BIMSTEC chair, Bangladesh, of their decisions.

"A firm decision would be taken at the next summit meeting of the sub-regional forum". he added.

Khan on an optimistic note said, "someday we will go to no-visa regime within BIMSTEC".

He said he was hopeful that the BIMSTEC FTA in goods will enter into force from July 2006, adding "if the deal comes into full force, it could generate additional trade worth USD 40 billion-60 billion among BIMSTEC members."

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Khaleda Zia earlier today inaugurated the ministerial meeting, saying regional solidarity was essential in facing socio-economic challenges stemming from globalisation.

"To sustain development, our economies must grow together. Our strategies should be aimed at equitable growth. Our motto should be mutual benefit. Our guiding force should be regional solidarity," she said at the inaugural ceremony.

A joint-statement was issued at the end of the meet. Expressing the hope that BIMSTEC-FTA would be operational from July 1, 2006, Zia said, "This will be vital in promoting our growing sectors, particularly those facing the challenges of globalisation". She said the FTA however should be attuned to meeting the needs and constraints of the least developed member-states of the group.

The prime minister also called for giving priority to social issues, adding economic development cannot be meaningful without social progress. Social issues, therefore, must remain high on the agenda.