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SAFTA

South Asia Free Trade Agreement

Barbed border wire to get red trade carpet
2-Jan-2007 Indian Express
The way India has traditionally managed its border areas - security being the prime concern - will undergo a radical change this year with the Cabinet Committee on Security clearing a revamp of the infrastructure at major land borders to facilitate trade and commerce.
India forms new SA trade bloc sans Pak
26-Dec-2006 Daily India
In what is being described as a success for India and a "failure and punishment for Pakistan" on the economic diplomacy front, India has formed a regional trading bloc excluding Islamabad, and including all the SAFTA members, besides Thailand.
Study suggests Bangladesh to ink FTAs with India, Pakistan
18-Oct-2006 News from Bangladesh
A new study says Bangladesh should sign Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with India and Pakistan, but fails to identify what the FTAs would have in addition to South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
Draft law for hassle-free export of perishables
4-Oct-2006
Export of fruits, vegetables, meat and fish could soon become easier with the commerce ministry proposing a draft legislation on export of perishable goods.
No MFN; Pak expands positive list for India
4-Oct-2006
India on Thursday termed Pakistan’s move to include an additional 302 items in its positive list for trade with India as a ploy to continue to deny the MFN status for India. New Delhi sees this as a clear violation of the Safta pact and would take up the issue in the Safta meet next month.
India studying FTAs for unilateral trade preference to all LDCs
2-Oct-2006
India has undertaken a study of its existing free trade agreements (FTAs) like Safta and the proposed ones like Asean FTA and Southern African Customs Union FTA.
Greater integration in need
15-Sep-2006
The center of gravity of the world economy was shifting to South Asia but opportunities of this regional dynamism could only be harnessed if the region integrated.
Services under SAFTA: How to make it work for South Asia?
6-Sep-2006
The service sector has emerged as one of the major contributors in the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and trade. On an average, while services account for more than 70% of GDP in developed countries and 50% in developing countries, their share in global exports have grown from 15% to nearly 25% over the last two decades. In the case of South Asia too, the share of services in GDP and trade has increased.
Safta & Pak: LDCs may bolster India’s stand
29-Aug-2006
India is likely to get the support of least developed country (LDC) members of the Safta in its fight against Pakistan’s refusal to implement the agreement in its letter and spirit.
Uncertainty looms over Bangla-Pak FTA talks
28-Aug-2006
Although Bangladesh and Pakistan have agreed to sign a free trade area deal by September this year, the two countries are yet to start negotiations.
Indo-Pak relations obstacle for SAFTA: FBCCI
24-Aug-2006
Bilateral relations between India and Pakistan are posing "threat" to SAFTA, the apex business chamber of Bangladesh said on Thursday.
Islamabad not opposed to Kabul’s SAFTA membership
10-Aug-2006
Pakistan on Wednesday rejected the notion as baseless that it was opposed to Afghanistan’s entry into the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
Saarc defers free trade dispute
2-Aug-2006
South Asian foreign ministers have agreed to defer a dispute between India and Pakistan over the implementation of a regional free trade agreement.
India to raise SAFTA issues in Dhaka
31-Jul-2006
India, which has called for an emergency meeting of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Ministerial Council, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan backing away from its commitment under the multilateral agreement.
Driving benefit from SAFTA
31-Jul-2006
The (SAFTA) South Asian Free Trade Agreement has been implemented from July 1, 2006, which is operating under the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Pak decision on SAFTA will make agreement meaningless: India
15-Jul-2006 Financial Express
Unhappy over Pakistan’s decision to limit trade with it to a few items under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), India on Tuesday said such a move would make the agreement meaningless and sought an "urgent" meeting of the SAARC Commerce Ministers to discuss the issue, an Indian newspaper reported.
Making SAFTA effective
3-Jul-2006
The South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), has come into force in the member countries in South Asia. Of the seven countries of SAARC India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are at the phase of developing countries and the remaining four in the category of least developed countries.
Seminar held on SAFTA
21-Jun-2006
The SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) organized a seminar on SAFTA, Expanding Business Opportunities in Karachi on the occasion of Seventh SAARC trade fair.
Trade in services in SAARC to be discussed in Oct
6-May-2006
The Committee of Experts (COE) of the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) will examine the proposal to include trade in services under the SAFTA agreement in October this year.
Aziz links free trade to Kashmir
3-May-2006 Daily Times
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that free trade with India was not possible without resolving political disputes.