PM calls for early conclusion of BIMSTEC free trade agreement

Pitching for early conclusion of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Free Trade Agreement Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said countries in Asia should give a new strategic thrust to the cooperation in the backdrop of global financial crisis.

“We should do something visible in the area of trade and economic cooperation as a manifestation of our ability to do something big together," he said while inaugurating the BIMSTEC summit here.

Observing considerable progress has been made towards BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement for trade in goods, Singh said early conclusion of such an agreement would be a shining example of cooperation among the members.