A forward movement can be expected at the next week summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) both in terms of reducing the size of the country’s sensitive lists, especially for LDC members of SAARC, and also for reducing the peak tariff rates on products that remain covered by the sensitive list.

This was indicated by the Foreign Secretary, Mr Ranjan Mathai, here on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Mathai said that the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, leaves for Maldives on November 9 to lead the Indian delegation for the 17th SAARC summit being held in Addu Atoll.

Following the summit the Prime Minister will proceed to Male for a bilateral visit to Maldives. It was in September 2002 that an Indian Prime Minister paid a bilateral visit to Maldives.

At the summit, the member states are expected to finalise four agreements including two on regional standards, another to establish a rapid response mechanism for natural disaster and to establish a SAARC seed bank.

The Prime Minister has also in-principle agreed to have bilateral meetings with all the SAARC leaders, details of the meetings were being worked out, Mr Mathai said.

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