The Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2008 organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and taking place from July 1 to 3 will feature – among other issues – a session on Trade and Investment Opportunities in the SAARC region.

The session’s panel discussion would involve Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry, Dr Ayubar Rahman Bhuyan, Economic Advisor, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tariq Sayeed, President SAARC Chamber of Commerce, Chandi Dhakal, Immediate Past President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Alok Prasad, High Commissioner for India and Air Vice - Marshal (Rtd). Shaszad Aslam Chaudhry, High Commissioner for Pakistan, the chamber said.

Intra regional trade in SAARC is relatively low, ranging around 4-5 percent of total trade.
There is significant amount of untapped potential to generate more trade and investment within the region.

The session will explore the opportunities to enhance trade and investment opportunities in the SAARC region and this can be regarded as a good preamble to the upcoming 15th SAARC Summit to be held in Colombo, it said.