KATHMANDU: Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has stressed the need of making 21st century the era of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

"The SAARC region is rich in water and natural resources in the world. The 21st century should be made as South Asian era by maximum utilisation of the resources," said the Vice-President.

Inaugurating the South Asian Federation of Accountants Conference organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal in the Capital today, Vice President Pun pointed out the need of collective initiative for economic prosperity of SAARC countries.

He said that there were various problems including poverty and unemployment in the SAARC region. “Regional cooperation and unity should be made stronger to address these problems.”

The Vice President further said that the role of accountants is significant to control corruption and to maintain fiscal good governance.

Accountants of SAARC countries would be participating in the conference. Discussion on various dimensions of financial system, economic prosperity, and capacity building of accountant professionals would be discussed in the conference.

Similarly, President of ICAN, Prakash Jung Thapa, further stated the need of collaboration between government and private sectors for the improvement of financial system as well as to maintain fiscal discipline.

At the inaugural session of the conference, Chief of South Asian Federation of Accountants Conference, Dr Subodh Kumar Karna, said that financial system should be improved for economic prosperity and sustainable development.