..:: SAES : 1st South Asia Economic Summit ::..


	Message from the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa

	I am pleased to send this message of greetings on the occasion of the First South Asia Economic Summit scheduled to be held from August 28-30, 2008 in Colombo.

	Message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama

	It gives me great pleasure to send this message on the occasion of the 1st South Asia Economic Summit (SAES) which will be held in Colombo from 28-30 August 2008.

	Message from the Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

	The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) is pleased to join hands with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka to organize the 1st South Asia Economic Summit (SAES) in parallel with the 8th SAARC Trade Fair during 28 – 30 August, 2008.


	Message from the President of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL)

	I have great pleasure in issuing this message to mark the inauguration of the first South Asia Economic Summit. I am of the view that the theme of the Summit “Economic Integration in South Asia: SAFTA and Beyond” is both timely and significant.

The South Asia Economic Summit (SAES) is the first of its kind in the region that will lay the foundation for future South Asia Economic Summits. SAES is organized by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) in collaboration with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL). The Co-Partners of the SAES are: Research & Information Systems for Developing Countries (RIS), India; South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS), Nepal; and South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment (SAWTEE), Nepal. The SAES is supported by the World Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat, UNDP-Regional Centre in Colombo and the Asian Development Bank. The SAES will bring together a cross-section of stakeholders from the government, private sector, and civil society in the region to review and reflect on economic cooperation within South Asia to date and how the process could be strengthened in the future.

Declaration of the 1st South Asia Economic Summit
30 August, 2008 The 1st South Asia Economic Summit Successfully Concluded in Colombo

The 1st South Asia Economic Summit (SAES) which commenced in parallel to the 8th SAARC Trade Fair at the BMICH in Colombo on 28th August, 2008 was concluded on 30th August after three days of comprehensive and in-depth deliberations on key regional economic issues.
28 August, 2008 ADB Report launch at the SAES
Launch of the ADB report: “Quantification of Benefits from Economic Cooperation in South Asia” on the 28 August, from 13.00 pm– 14.00 pm at the Committee Room D.
24 July, 2008 Indian State Minister of Commerce and Power, and the Secretary General of SAARC will participate in the 1st South Asia Economic Summit
Hon. Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Government of India will participate as the Chief Guest on the 2nd day (29th August) and H.E. Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma, Secretary General, SAARC will participate as the Guest of Honour at the inauguration (28th August) at the 1st South Asia Economic Summit.

L to R: Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director General, RIS; Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma, Secretary General, SAARC; Dr. Kamal Hossain, former Minister of Bangladesh; Hon. Jairam Ramesh, Minister for Commerce and Power, Government of India; Executive Director, IPS; Nihal Rodrigo, former Secretary General, SAARC and Adviser to H.E. President of Sri Lanka; and Bheck B. Thapa, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nepal.
16 July, 2008 President, Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry will participate in the 1st South Asia Economic Summit

Omar Maniku, President of the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry met the Executive Director of the IPS to pledge full support for the forthcoming South Asia Economic Summit.
3 July, 2008 President, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry will participate in the 1st South Asia Economic Summit

Executive Director, IPS, met Tariq Sayeed, President, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI -- the apex business organization of SAARC -- www.saarcchamber.com) at the Head Office of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) on 3 July, 2008. Three executive committee members including the President of the FCCISL also participated in the meeting. Mr. Sayeed pledged full support for the forthcoming South Asia Economic Summit and will encourage members of the SCCI to actively participate in the Summit while they engage in the 8th SAARC Trade Fair.