KATHMANDU, July 30 : The main South Asian regional group on Tuesday took new steps toward eliminating tariffs to boost trade in the region, reports AFP. Senior officials from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries began a three-day meeting here to set an agenda for bringing down tariffs. The inter-governmental group on trade liberalisation will make recommendations to the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on how to free up trade. The meeting was inaugurated by SAARC Secretary General Naeem U Hasan who stressed the importance of regional cooperation for developing regional trade and commerce through concessional tariffs. The member nations set up the South Asian Preferential...
Newly appointed Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdullah Masood Abdullah presented his credentials to President Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday.
...The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched two separate State of Environment (SOE) reports for South Asia yesterday to help policymakers bring positive changes for achieving sustainable development.
...Newly appointed Australian High Commissioner Lorraine Barker made a courtesy call on Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina at her Dhanmondi residence yesterday.
...Bangladesh is prepared to share its experience with other developing countries as it is transforming its society with homegrown ideas. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, said this while addressing the first session of the Group of 77 on Tuesday.
...A three-day 'Education@UK Fair 2003' organised by the British Council begins in the city today. Education Minister Dr M Osman Farruk will inaugurate the fair at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. Delegates from 18 UK universities and colleges are likely to take part in the fair.
...The British High Commission in Dhaka introduced a new procedure from January 15 for students to obtain visa in collaboration with The British Council. The British Government wants to ensure genuine students to get visa quickly for upholding the standard of their education, said First Secretary, Immigration, Michael John Holloway.
...French Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Lummaux said a congenial investment atmosphere is being prevailed in Bangladesh as the existing law and order situation remains at a satisfactory level.
...A regional conference on American Studies begins at the conference room of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in the port city at 10.00am today.
...The American Centre of the US Embassy will inaugurate 'American Corner', a new resource centre, on the Chittagong campus of the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) at Jamal Khan Road today. Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury will attend the inaugural ceremony as guest of honour while US Ambassador Mary Ann Peters will be present as chief guest.
Several press reports published yesterday inaccurately quoted US Ambassador Mary Ann Peters' comments following her meeting with Foreign Minister Morshed Khan in a way that suggested that Bangladeshi students studying in the US will not be affected by the new immigration registration procedures for Bangladeshi males over the age of 16. This is not what Ambassador Peters stated to the journalists at the Foreign Ministry, said a US embassy press release.
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