June 29, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 24, 1429

ISLAMABAD, June 28: Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) and Saarc Law have agreed to form a joint association of professionals in South Asia with an objective to improve transparency, accountability and governance leading to poverty alleviation.

This was resolved in a joint meeting of SCCI, SAFA, Saarc Law representatives and leading businessmen in Sri Lanka. SCCI president Tariq Sayeed also attended the meeting, said a press release here on Saturday.

“The proposal for the formation of joint association of professionals would be presented before the Executive Committee Meeting of SCCI for final approval,” said Mr Tariq.

The former Secretary General South Asian Association of Regional Countries, Nihal Rodrigo, has been consented to be special adviser to this proposed organisation.

The proposed joint association would be established in Sri Lanka under patronage of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.

“Once the association is formed, its immediate task would be to organise a conference for professionals of the region on “Strategic Enterprise Governance and Poverty Alleviation” to coincide with the Saarc Summit in August,” said Tariq Sayeed.

According to an initially drafted concept paper, the members were of the opinion that despite a high degree of professionalism in the region there was still scope for improvement.—APP