Agence France Presse
DHAKA, April 5 (AFP) - Bangladesh Wednesday said that a preferential trade agreement among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations had failed to boost regional trade.
The South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) has been accused of failing to resolve a row between India and smaller SAARC nations over export items entitled to preferential treatment.
"Even though SAPTA came into being for the development of this region, in reality it is not making any contribution," Commerce Minister Mohammad Abdul Jalil was quoted as saying by the official BSS news agency.
Because of this Bangladesh was negotiating bilateral agreements with different countries, Jalil said.
In a reference to the disagrements between India and South Asian nations, the minister said it was not easy for countries with weaker economies to ensure their received benefits from bigger neighbours.
"The stronger nations should come forward with a broad mind," he said without elaborating.
Both Bangladesh and India are members of the seven-nation SAARC which was launched in Dhaka in 1985. It also groups Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.:
