South Asia Economic Conclave for inclusive growth begins Monday

The three-day South Asia Economic Conclave (SAEC) has begun at Delhi's Lalit hotel, an effort by the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII) to work out a 'roadmap of inclusive growth through economic integration'.

The Indian government is supporting the effort.

India’s Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the high-profile event on Monday and dubbed it as ‘a game changer’. 

“If Asia is the future of global economy, South Asia is at its heart,” he said.

Climate change is a common enemy of South Asian nations, Prabhu added.

Three more Indian ministers representing departments of power and energy, transport, and commerce will be joined by ministers from other South Asian countries in the deliberations.
 
There is, however, no minister from Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the list of participants circulated by the CII.
 
But business leaders and mediapersons from both countries are slated to speak in the plenary sessions.
 
"We want to promote the regional dialogue on economic integration," said CII Director General Chandrajit Banerji on Monday. "This conclave should help us do that."
 
Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and the Prime Minister's International Affairs advisor Gowher Rizvi will represent the country at the conference.
 
bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi has been invited to speak at one of the seven plenary sessions, the one covering media's role in integration.
 
Former Bangladesh ambassador to the US and high commissioner to India Tariq Karim, who is now an Adviser to the World Bank’s South Asian Regional Integration, will speak at the inaugural session.

Multilateral developmental lenders such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank seem to have a great interest in the event.

Led by South Asia Vice President Annette Dixon, the WB team includes several senior advisers and officials such as Lead Economist Sanjay Kathuria.

Senior ADB officials include Deputy DG Diwesh Sharan and Lead Economist for regional cooperation Jayant Menon.

Former deputy DG of the WTO Harsha Vardhana Singh, former Costa Rican trade minister and now WB Senior Director Anabel Gonzalez, former Commonwealth director Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy are among those attending the first such event in the region.