The 25th meeting of executive body of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) concluded in Thimpu, Bhutan on Saturday urging for the implementation of South Asian Preferential trading Arrangement (SAPTA) through the development of institutional mechanism, said a press release issued here on Monday.

They also held panel discussions on the objectives of SCCI’s councils on tourism, women, construction and information technology during the two day meeting, states the release issued by Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). The meeting also approved regulation to constitute a new council of tea industries in the region.

Representatives from the national level chambers of South Asian countries took part in the meeting, which was presided over by SCCI president Padma Jyoti. A six member delegation accompanied by Hulas Chand Golchha, vice-president of SCCI and members Suraj Vaidya, Manoj Goyal and Yogendra Shakya and second vice president of FNCCI Rajendra Kumar Khetan, the release added.

It further says, a SCCI delegation led by president Jyoti also met Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk and foreign secretary Dasho Ugyen Tshering on Friday.

As a part of the same meeting, SCCI Tourism Council (STC), Bhutan Tourism Organisation (BTO), Bhutanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and SCCI secretariat jointly organised a seminar on –Promotion of Intra-regional Tourism in SAARC region on Saturday. Bhutanese Wangchuk was chief guest of the programme while SCCI president Jyoti delivered a key note address, said the release.

The seminar has approved two proposals regarding the tourism and aviation in the region. These include a provision of separate SAARC desk at immigration office at every airport within the region and joint participation of member nation of SAARC in the international tourism fair instead of single representation. According to the release, the seminar has also passed a proposal to call a joint meeting of airlines companies and civil aviation department of the region.

Bhutanese PM Wangchuk hosted a reception and dinner in the honour of the participants of the meeting in the evening of Saturday.