As follow up action of the announcement made by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the video conference of SAARC leaders on March 15, a video conference of senior trade officials of SAARC countries was held on Wednesday to discuss the impact of travel restrictions and the larger COVID-19 situation on intra-regional trade.
Demonstrating keen shared interest and a problem-solving approach in the present challenging circumstances, all countries contributed actively to the discussions on a wide-ranging trade related agenda. “It was recognised in the conference that the COV- ID-19 pandemic is likely to have a considerable adverse impact on trade in the SAARC region. In order for the countries to deal with the situation, it was stressed that new ways and means be jointly identified to sustain and expand the intra-regional trade until the normal trade channels are fully restored,” reads the press statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, India.
