India to further liberalise visa procedures
Heeding to demands for free movement of media persons and goods across South Asia, India on Monday announced that it would unilaterally take further steps to liberalise the visa regime as it emphasised the importance of connectivity to enable the ...
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Heeding to demands for free movement of media persons and goods across South Asia, India on Monday announced that it would unilaterally take further steps to liberalise the visa regime as it emphasised the importance of connectivity to enable the region to realise its potential.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said South Asia was at a "defining moment" in history and had a "collective opportunity for leap-frog" in terms of growth.
"If this century has to be that of Asia, this decade should be of SAARC," he said addressing a conference of journalists in presence of his counterparts from other seven members of the regional organisation, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan.
"We all have equal stake in determining our shared destiny and working together for better future," he said stressing the need for strengthening all elements of physical connectivity, economic connectivity and connectivity of ideas.
In terms of connectivity of ideas, Mukherjee favoured freer movement of media persons and goods and creation of conditions for unhindered and free flow of information.
ADVERTISEMENT
The SAARC Council of Ministers discussed several proposals and decided to remove all irritants, he told the conference of South Asia Free Media Association (SAFTA)."Unilaterally, India will further liberalise visa procedures so that journalists and other beneficiaries do not have complaints of visa restrictions," he said responding to SAFMA's demands for allowing free movement for media persons across South Asia.
Foreign Ministers of other SAARC members also favoured easing of movement within the region, particularly for media persons and products and free flow of information. Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said his country also favoured easing of restrictions on travel within the region. He said he looked forward to working with his Indian counterpart in this regard.
Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekar Ahmed Chowdhury the countries of the region should interact with themselves before interacting with the world in a globalised scenario.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We should expand connectivity," he said, emphasising the need for implementing what the member countries have already agreed on, particularly in respect of fighting terrorism. He suggested that all SAARC member countries should incorporate the South Asia Development Goals in their national policies.Afghanistan, which is joining SAARC as its eighth member, offered to play the role of a land bridge between South East Asia and Central Asia. Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta said it was time for all member countries of SAARC to play a role for regional cooperation so that South Asia could play a greater role at global level.
"Afghanistan is ready to open its land, roads, airports etc for other SAARC countries for realisation of free movement across the region," he said. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said his country was already giving visas on arrival and was ready to expand that.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
