Bangladesh Foreign Secretary lectures in Stockholm

The Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), the Stockholm-based independent and non-profit research and policy institute, organises an Asia Forum seminar on ”Future Direction for South Asia – Lessons from Europe” with the Foreign Secretary of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, H.E. Mohamed Mijarul Quayes. The event will take place on 1 June 2012, 10.00 – 11.30 at  ISDP, Västra Finnbodavägen 2, Stockholm-Nacka, Sweden. To attend, a notice should be sent to emartensson@isdp.eu by 30 May 2012. All are welcome!
Abstract: With the pioneering initiative of Bangladesh, formal regional cooperation in South Asia began in the mid-1980s to increase economic and political cooperation in the region. The regional organization, SAARC, however, is often criticized by analysts for not being able to achieve its objectives. South Asia remains the least integrated region of the world with intra-regional trade remaining below 5%. Although slow, some significant progress has been made in certain areas during the last decade. The pace is faster these days with the democratic governments functioning in all the member countries. However, much needs to be done for the realization of its objectives and to further integrate along the lines of other models of regional cooperation such as the EU. The Foreign Secretary will highlight the areas where progress has been achieved, the prospects of the regional cooperation in the context of the development of the region, as well as add his first hand experience and insights.
Read more about the event.