The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) in partnership with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi organized a stakeholder consultation on South Asian Integration for the Asian Development Bank (ADB - RETA 6472) on Monday the 11th of July 2011 from at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.
The objective of the stakeholder consultation was to obtain feedback on the papers that have been prepared by scholars from across the South Asian region for the ADB on two themes highly relevant in the current context:
(i) Indo – Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA);
(ii) Regional value chains;
The first study attempts a comprehensive review of the indo-Lanka FTA and also looked at the road ahead in terms of extending its coverage. The timing for conducting the study was considered opportune as more than a decade has passed since signing of the agreement.
The second study on regional value chain analysis proposed to map out potential sectors, role of foreign investment as well as regional agreements for production integration.
The topics discussed included:
Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement: Towards More Comprehensive Economic Engagement
[Coordinated by Professor I.N.Mukherji] CHAIR – Dr. Rohan Samarajiva, CEO and Chair, LIRNEasia
1. Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement: A Decadal Assessment
by Dr. Subrata K. Bahera & Prof. I.N.Mukherji
Discussant: Dr. Sirimal Abeyratne - Professor of Economics , University of Colombo and
Mr. Gomi Senadhira - Director General of Commerce, Department of Commerce, Sri Lanka
2. Indo Lanka Free Trade Agreement and its Impact (Responses from Field Survey)
by Mr. Nihal de Silva - Senior Consultant, Lanka Market Research Bureau (Pvt) Limited, Colombo
Discussant: Mr. Sumith Nakandala - Director General, Economic Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Sri Lanka
3. Trade in Services between India and Sri Lanka
by Mr. Anushka Wijesinha, - Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Discussant: Mr. Mangala Yapa – Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer
Colombo Dockyard, PLC and
Dr. Rohan Samarajiva – Chair and CEO, LIRNEasia
Q&A
Regional Production Network in South Asia
[Coordinated by Dr. SK Mohanty Chair: Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy - Director (retired), Economic Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
4. Production and Trade Network in South Asia: A Case Study of Agricultural Sector in India
by Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad
Discussant: Mr. Ajith Perera - Commercial Manager, Hayleys Agro
5. Value Chain Development for Fostering Regional Cooperation in South Asia: Case of Tea Sector in Sri Lanka
by Mr. Anushka Wijesinha - Research officer, Institute of Policy Studies
Discussant: Mr. Rohan Fernando - HVA Lanka Food Exports (Pvt) Ltd and Vice President, Sri Lanka Tea Exporters Association
: Dr. Sirimal Abeyratne - Professor of Economics , University of Colombo and
Mr. Gomi Senadhira - Director General of Commerce, Department of Commerce, Sri Lanka