Kathmandu, July 6:

Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, finance minister has expressed the views that trade in the SAARC region is not increasing as per our expectations, particularly in comparison to regions like the European Union.

Dr Mahat said this while addressing an executive committee meeting of the 36th SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said that SAARC has done little in economic ter-ms as intra-regional trade remains negligible. He suggested it to promote technology, capital, trade and investment in the regional which can be a significant contributor to boost regional trade. At the same time, Dr Mahat also stressed on removing tariff and non-tariff barriers.

At the same function, ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal, Humayun Kabir said that trade promotion is a crucial element of poverty alleviation.

Kabir said that there should be competitiveness and capacity building to compete in the globalised market that may lead South Asia towards greater economic prosperity.

He urged all concerned to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers Pakistani envoy to Nep-al, Sohail Amin expressed the view that SAARC chamber has been playing a critical role for the operation of SAFTA.