Kathmandu, May 20: The two-day 60th council meeting of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers and Industry (CACCI) urged the governments and business entrepreneurs in the region to co-operate in dealing with the economic and social problems brought about by globalisation.

The meeting held on May 18-19 in Kathmandu appealed to the governments in the region to undertake measures in support of capacity-building that would enable Asian economies to meet the challenges of globalisation and take advantage of the opportunities it offers, a joint communiqué issued by CACCI said.

The press communiqué said that the meeting called on the governments in the region to support the process of liberalisation by putting in place the measures that would enhance its benefits and facilitate the adjustment.

The meeting discussed safety-net measures to cushion the pains of policy adjustments that countries in the region face as a result of their participation in the globalisation process and agreed to support trade and investment liberalisation in the region.

CACCI urged the governments in the region to adopt policies that go in harmony with the liberal economic regime, make infrastructure spending productive, promote the private sector, encourage the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and enhance human resources development.

CACCI also called on the developed countries to help developing ones to build capacity to realise the commercial and social dividends of globalisation. For the least developed countries, this can targeted foreign aid programmes which help those nations build fundamental capacities for self-sustained economic growth and development.

In line with its policy to set in place programmes aimed at the long-term development of SMEs, CACCI agreed to organise an SME trade fair in India in 2001. The project will feature two concurrent events: the Asia-Pacific Expo 2001and Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2001.

CACCI also agreed to organise a dialogue between the SAARC CCI and the ASEAN CCI in the near future to provide a forum for the two regional bodies to discuss trade and investment promotion issues and identify areas of possible co-operation.

Participated in by the representatives of the national chambers of commerce and industry from Nepal, Australia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, the meeting decided to hold its council meetings as well as its 18th conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on November 30-December 1 this year.

CACCI – established over three decades ago – has 21 national chambers as its members representing the interest of some 2.5 million entrepreneurs and businessmen in the region.