New Delhi, February 11:

The committee on economic cooperation formed under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has agreed to prune the sensitive lists so as to increase the volume of trade among member countries.

Its 14th meeting attended by commerce secretaries of SAARC nations also agreed to include service sector in South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). The meeting began yesterday.

“This has given impetus to the SAFTA process,” said Dr Sheel Kant Sharma, SAARC Secretary General.

He said the committee agreed to minimize sensitive lists of LDCs vis-a vis non-LDCs. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are non-LDC countries.

“The committee has made recommendations to expedite the SAFTA process.These will be sent to the concerned authorities,” he added. The committee is SAFTA’s apex body.

According to a Nepalese Embassy official Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, the pruning of lists will lead to more trade competition among member states and increase trade volume.

He said member states would prepare a concept paper on incorporating service sector in SAFTA adding that they would meet again in June.