ID :
11920
Wed, 07/09/2008 - 01:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11920
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D-8 AGREES TO ENSURE SMOOTH FLOW OF GOODS, SERVICES AMONG MEMBERS
Kuala Lumpur, July 8 (ANTARA) - The Group of Eight Developing Countries (D-8) wound up its sixth two-day summit here on Tueasday with an agreement to ensure the smooth flow of goods and services among member states through the granting of privileges including visa-free facilities.
Under the agreement, D-8 member states would grant tax relief to each other's products with 40 percent local contents, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda who represented President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
To ensure the smooth flow of goods and services, the D-8 summit also agreed to provide their businessmen with visa-free facilities, he said.
"The technical procedure of granting the visa-free facilities will be discussed at a senior officials meeting (SOM). But the chamber of commerce and industry and the association of businessmen in each of member countries will likely issue a list of 100 businessmen entitled to the visa-free facilities," he sad.
D-8 is a group of developing countries that have formed an economic development alliance. The group was established after an announcement in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 15, 1997.
It consists of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
The main areas of D-8 cooperation include finance, banking, rural development, science and technology, humanitarian development, agriculture, energy, environment, and health.
Wirajuda said both Bangladesh and Egypt had an objection to the agreement on the smooth flow of goods.
Bangladesh had applied for an exception to the agreement on the granting of tax relief for goods and services, arguing it was the most backward country among the D-8 member states, he said.
Meanwhile, Egypt argued it had been committed to enhacing its trade with Arab countries for products with 50 percent local contents, he said.
"I proposed that the D-8 member states favoring the agreement on the smooth flow of goods and services go ahead with the agreement despite the objection. The two countries still have a chance to make up their mind until they accept the agreement," he said.
President Yudhoyono attended the summit's opening on Monday. But shortly after he delivered his speech, he left the meeting venue because he had to fly to Japan for a Group of Eight Industrialized Countries (G-8) Summit.
Under the agreement, D-8 member states would grant tax relief to each other's products with 40 percent local contents, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda who represented President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
To ensure the smooth flow of goods and services, the D-8 summit also agreed to provide their businessmen with visa-free facilities, he said.
"The technical procedure of granting the visa-free facilities will be discussed at a senior officials meeting (SOM). But the chamber of commerce and industry and the association of businessmen in each of member countries will likely issue a list of 100 businessmen entitled to the visa-free facilities," he sad.
D-8 is a group of developing countries that have formed an economic development alliance. The group was established after an announcement in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 15, 1997.
It consists of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
The main areas of D-8 cooperation include finance, banking, rural development, science and technology, humanitarian development, agriculture, energy, environment, and health.
Wirajuda said both Bangladesh and Egypt had an objection to the agreement on the smooth flow of goods.
Bangladesh had applied for an exception to the agreement on the granting of tax relief for goods and services, arguing it was the most backward country among the D-8 member states, he said.
Meanwhile, Egypt argued it had been committed to enhacing its trade with Arab countries for products with 50 percent local contents, he said.
"I proposed that the D-8 member states favoring the agreement on the smooth flow of goods and services go ahead with the agreement despite the objection. The two countries still have a chance to make up their mind until they accept the agreement," he said.
President Yudhoyono attended the summit's opening on Monday. But shortly after he delivered his speech, he left the meeting venue because he had to fly to Japan for a Group of Eight Industrialized Countries (G-8) Summit.
