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Regional Seminar
Bi-lateral FTAs, RTAs and Unilateral Liberalisation:
The South Asian Trade Highways
Monday, 24 March, 2008
BRAC Centre Inn, Dhaka
Inaugural Session: 09.30-11.30
Bilateral FTAs in South Asia – Lessons for SAFTA |
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Chairperson: Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
Chief Guest: Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Honourable Commerce Adviser, Government of Bangladesh
Guest of Honour: Dr. Indrajit Coomarasawamy, Director, EAD, Commonwealth Secretariat, London |
09.30-09.35 |
Welcome Speech by Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM |
09.35-09.50 |
Presentation: “India-Sri Lanka Bilateral FTA: The Sri Lankan Perspective”
By Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka |
09.50-10.05 |
Presentation: “India-Nepal Trade Agreement: The Nepal Perspective”
By Mr. J. P. Agrawal, Vice President, Nepal Chamber of Commerce |
10.05-10.15 |
Designated Discussant: Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, CPD, Dhaka |
10.15-10.20 |
Designated Discussant: Professor Indra Nath Mukherji, JNU, New Delhi, India |
10.20-10.25 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. Newaz Rajabdeen, President, FCCISL, Sri Lanka |
10.25-10.30 |
Designated Discussant: Dr. Binod Karmacharya, Economist, Nepal |
10.30-10.35 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. Bipul Chatterjee, Deputy Executive Director, CUTS, India |
10.35-11.00 |
Open Discussion |
11.00-11.10 |
Speech by Guest of Honour |
11.10-11.20 |
Speech by Chief Guest |
11.20-11.30 |
Speech by Chairperson |
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11.30-11.45 |
Tea/Coffee Break |
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Second Session:11.45-01.05 |
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Trading with India: Bilateral or Regional Arrangement? |
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Chairperson: Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
Guest of Honour: Dr. Indrajit Coomarasawamy, Director, EAD, Commonwealth Secretariat, London |
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11.45-12.00 |
Presentation by Dr. Selim Raihan, Associate Professor, University of Dhaka |
12.00-12.05 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. Farooq Sobhan, President, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute |
12.05-12.10 |
Designated Discussant: Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan, Bangladesh Tariff Commission |
12.10-12.15 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. R.S. Ratna, Director of Commerce, Government of India |
12.15-12.20 |
Designated Discussant: Engr. M. A Jabbar, Former Vice President, FPCCI, Pakistan |
12.20-12.25 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. Manzur Ahmed, Adviser, FBCCI, Bangladesh |
12.25-12.55 |
Open Discussion |
12.55-01.05 |
Speech by Chairperson |
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01.05-02.00 |
Lunch Break |
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Panel discussion: 02.00-04.10 |
Bilateral FTAs, RTAs, and Unilateral Liberalisation: The South Asian Trade Highways |
Moderator: Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka
Panellists
Professor Rehman Sohan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
Dr. Indrajit Coomarasawamy, Director, Economic Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
Professor Indra Nath Mukherji, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Mr. S. N. Menon, Former Commerce Secretary, India
Mr. Ashraf Hayaat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan
Mr. Gomi Senadhira, Director of Commerce, Government of Sri Lanka
Dr. Zaidi Sattar, Vice Chancellor, Millennium University and Former Economist, World Bank, Dhaka
Dr. Binod Karmacharya, Economist, Nepal |
02.00-03.20 |
Speech by the Panellists |
03.20-04.00 |
Panel discussion |
04.00-04.10 |
Sum-up by the Moderator |
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04.10-04.25 |
Tea/Coffee Break |
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Book Launching Ceremony: 04.25-05.45
“Trade Development Poverty Linkages: Reflection from Selected Asian and Sub-Saharan African Countries (Volume I – Country Case Studies)”,
Edited by M. A. Razzaque and Selim Raihan
(Published by CUTS International India, Jaipur) |
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Chairperson: Dr. Quazi Shahabuddin, Director General, BIDS
Guest of Honour: Dr. Indrajit Coomarasawamy, Commonwealth Secretariat, London |
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04.25-04.40 |
Presentation of the Book: Dr. M A Razzaque,, Economic Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat and Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM |
04.40-04.45 |
Designated Discussant: Professor Atiur Rahman, Chairman, Unnayan Shamannay |
04.45-04.50 |
Designated Discussant: Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI, Pakistan |
04.50-04.55 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. Navin Dahal, Executive Director, SAWTEE, Nepal |
04.55-05.15 |
Open Discussion |
05.15-05.25 |
Speech by Guest of Honour |
05.25-05.35 |
Speech by Chairperson |
05.35-05.45 |
Closing remarks and vote of thanks by Dr. Selim Raihan |
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Commonwealth
Secretariat |
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Wednesday, 23rd January, 2008
Venue: BRAC Centre Inn, Mohakhali, Dhaka
Organised by SANEM
First Anniversary of SANEM, and
Book Launching Ceremony
“Venturing into a Quota Free World: The Ready-Made Garment Industry in Bangladesh” Edited by Abdur Razzaque and Selim Raihan (published by Pathak Shamabesh, Dhaka)
and
“Dynamics of Trade Liberalisation in Bangladesh: Analysis of Policies and Practices”
by Selim Raihan, (published by Pathak Shamabesh, Dhaka) |
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Chairperson: Professor Bazlul Haque Khondker, Chairman, SANEM
Chief Guest: Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
Guest of Honour: Ambassador Edwin Laurent, Commonwealth Secretariat, London
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| 09.30-09.40 |
Opening Speech by Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM |
| 09.40-09.45 |
Speech by Professor Bazlul Haque Khondker, Chairman, SANEM |
| 09.45-09.55 |
Welcome Speech
Professor Atiur Rahman, Chairman, Unnayan Shamannay, Bangladesh
Mr. Bipul Chatterjee, Deputy Executive Director, CUTS International, India
Dr. Safdar A. Sohail, DG, Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan (FTIP), Pakistan
Mr. Shiv Raj Bhatt, Trade Policy Analyst, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nepal
Mr. Janaka Wijayasiri, Research Economist, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Sri Lanka
Dr. Ananya Raihan, Executive Director, D. Net, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| 09.55-10.15 |
Presentations on Books by Dr. M. A. Razzaque and Dr. Selim Raihan |
| 10.15-10.20 |
Discussion by Professor Ali Rashid, North South University |
| 10.20-10.25 |
Discussion by Professor Ismail Hossain, Jahangir Nagar University |
| 10.25-10.30 |
Discussion by Dr. Zaidi Sattar, Senior Economist, World Bank, Dhaka |
| 10:30-10:35 |
Discussion by Dr. Nazneen Ahmed, Research Fellow, BIDS |
| 10.35-10.55 |
Open Discussion |
| 10.55-11.05 |
Speech by Guest of Honour: Ambassador. Edwin Laurent |
| 11.05-11.15 |
Speech by Chief Guest: Professor Rehman Sobhan |
| 11.15-11.20 |
Closing Speech by Chairperson and Executive Director of SANEM |
| 11.20-11.45 |
Refreshment |
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South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM)
Dhaka Secretariat |
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Wednesday, 23rd January, 2008
Venue: BRAC Centre Inn, Mohakhali, Dhaka
Organised by SANEM, CUTS-International and Commonwealth Secretariat, London
Regional Seminar on
“SAFTA and Its Implications for the Member Countries” |
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Inaugural Session: SAFTA and the Bangladesh Economy |
Chairperson: Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
Guest of Honour: Ambassador Edwin Laurent, Commonwealth Secretariat, London |
| 11.45-11.50 |
Opening Speech by Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM |
| 11.50-11.55 |
Speech by Mr. Bipul Chatterjee, Deputy Executive Director, CUTS International, India. |
| 11.55-12.15 |
Presentation: “SAFTA and the Bangladesh Economy”, Dr. Selim Raihan, Dhaka University |
| 12.15-12.20 |
Comment: Professor A.K.M. Atiqur Rahman, North South University |
| 12.20-12.25 |
Comment: Dr. Zaidi Sattar, Senior Economist, World Bank, Dhaka |
| 12.25-12.45 |
Open Discussion |
| 12.45-12.55 |
Speech by Guest of Honour |
| 12.55-01.05 |
Speech by Chairperson |
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| 01.05-02.00 |
Lunch Break |
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First Working Session on SAFTA |
Chairperson: Professor M. A. Taslim, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka |
| 02.00-02.15 |
Presentation: “Why SAFTA”, Dr. Aparna Sawhney, Associate Professor, JNU, New Delhi |
| 02.15-02.30 |
Presentation: “India and Success of SAFTA”, Mr. R.S. Ratna, Ministry of Commerce, India |
| 02.30-02.35 |
Comment: Dr. M. Abid Khan, Bangladesh Tariff Commission |
| 02.35-02.40 |
Comment: Dr. Amit Yadav, Ministry of Commerce, India |
| 02.40-03.10 |
Open Discussion |
| 03.10-03.20 |
Speech by Chairperson |
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| 03.20-03.40 |
Tea/Coffee Break |
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Second Working Session on SAFTA |
Chairperson: Mr. Bipul Chatterjee, Deputy Executive Director, CUTS International, India |
| 03.40-03.55 |
Presentation: “SAFTA: Implications for Pakistan”, Dr. Safdar A. Sohail, DG, FTIP, Pakistan |
| 03.55-04.10 |
Presentation: “India-Sri Lanka FTA: Lesson for SAFTA”, Ms. J. Thennakoon, IPS, Sri Lanka |
| 04.10-04.25 |
Presentation: “SAFTA: Implications for Nepal”, Ms. Neelu Thapa, SAWTEE, Nepal |
| 04.25-04.30 |
Comment: Ms Mehnaz Ajmal, Research Associate, SDPI, Pakistan. |
| 04.30-04.35 |
Comment: Mr. Janaka Wijayasiri, Research Economist, IPS, Sri Lanka. |
| 04.35-04.40 |
Comment: Mr. Shiv Raj Bhatt, Trade Policy Analyst, Ministry of Commerce, Nepal |
| 04.40-05.00 |
Open Discussion |
| 05.00-05.10 |
Closing Speech by Chairperson |
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Commonwealth
Secretariat |
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Thursday, 24th January 2008
Venue: BRAC Centre Inn, Mohakhali, Dhaka
Organised by SANEM, CUTS-International, Unnayan Shamannay and Commonwealth Secretariat, London
Regional Seminar on
“Services Trade Liberalisation in South Asia” |
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First Session: Services Trade Liberalisation and Domestic Regulation in Bangladesh and India |
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Chairperson: Professor Atiur Rahman, Chairman, Unnayan Shamannay
Guest of Honour: Ambassador Edwin Laurent, Commonwealth Secretariat, London |
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| 10.00-10.05 |
Opening Speech by Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM |
| 10.05-10.10 |
Speech by Mr. Bipul Chatterjee, Deputy Executive Director, CUTS International, India |
| 10.10-10.30 |
Presentation: “Services Trade Liberalisation and Domestic Regulation: Bangladesh Perspectives”, Dr. Selim Raihan, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka |
| 10.30-10.50 |
Presentation: “Services Trade Liberalisation and Domestic Regulation in India”,
Dr. Dipankar Sengupta, Department of Economics, University of Jammu, India |
| 10.50-10:55 |
Comment: Dr. Ananya Raihan, Executive Director, D. Net, Bangladesh |
| 10:55-11.00 |
Comment: Mr. Ashraf Hayyat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan |
| 11.00-11.30 |
Open Discussion |
| 11.30-11.35 |
Speech by Guest of Honour |
| 11.35-11.40 |
Speech by Chairperson |
| 11.40-12.00 |
Tea/Coffee Break |
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Second Session: Domestic Preparedness for Services Trade Liberalisation in South Asian Countries |
Chairperson: Mr. Ashraf Hayyat, Additional Secretary, WTO Wing, Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan |
| 12.00-12.05 |
Opening Speech by Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM |
| 12.05-12.35 |
Consolidated Presentation: “Domestic Preparedness for Services Trade Liberalisation in Five South Asian Countries”, by Mr. Pranav Kumar, CUTS International, India |
| 12.35-01.30 |
Lunch Break |
| 01.30-01.35 |
Designated Discussant: Dr. M. Abid Khan, Bangladesh Tariff Commission |
| 01.35-01.40 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. R. S. Ratna, Ministry of Commerce, India |
| 01.40-01.45 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. Shiv Raj Bhatt, Ministry of Commerce, Nepal |
| 01.45-01.50 |
Designated Discussant: Dr. Safdar A. Sohail, DG, FTIP, Pakistan |
| 01.50-01.55 |
Designated Discussant: Mr. Janaka Wijayasiri, IPS, Sri Lanka. |
| 01.55-02.25 |
Open Discussion |
| 02.25-02.35 |
Speech by Chairperson |
| 02.35-02.45 |
Closing remarks and vote of thanks by Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM |
| 02.45-03.00 |
Refreshment |
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Book Launch: “Global Rice and Agricultural Trade Liberalisation: Poverty and Welfare Implications for South Asian Countries”, Edited by M. A. Razzaque and Edwin Laurent |
Chairperson: Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, CPD |
| 03.00-03.15 |
Presentation of the Book: Dr. M A Razzaque, Economic Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat |
| 03.15-03.30 |
Presentation: “Global Rice Trade Liberalisation and Bangladesh”, Dr. Selim Raihan, SANEM |
| 03.30-03.45 |
Open Discussion |
| 03:45-04:15 |
Presentation: “Commonwealth Trade Policy Work”, Dr. M.A Razzaque and Ambassador Edwin Laurent |
| 04:15-04:30 |
Open Discussion and Summing up by the Chair |
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Unnayan Shamannay |
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Commonwealth
Secretariat |
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