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Addu (Maldives), Nov 11 (IANS) The curtain came down on the two-day SAARC summit here Friday with the South Asian grouping's leaders pushing for trade liberalisation and a host of initiatives that include setting up a Rapid Action Force to combat natural disasters. Closing the summit, Maldives President Mohammad Nasheed, the host and chair, announced a set of decisions that included commitments to reducing trade barriers, strengthening investment and enhancing connectivity. 'It was decided by consensus to direct the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) ministerial council to reduce the sensitive list and non-tariff barriers,' Nasheed said. Nasheed also thanked India for its initiative in deciding to reduce the sensitive lists for the least developed countries under SAFTA from 480 tariff lines (categories in a country's tariff schedule) to 25. The SAARC leaders also also directed the finance ministers of their countries to explore avenues for more investment in the region. They also decided to conclude a railway agreement and a motor vehicles agreement before the next meeting of the SAARC council of ministers, expected some time in 2012. Nasheed also announced Nepal will host the 18th SAARC summit in 2012.
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