International Workshop for the IDRC Research Project
on
“Preferential Trading Agreements in Asia: towards an Asian Economic Community”

March 30, 2006

The first international workshop of the IDRC Research Project on “Preferential Trading Agreements in Asia: towards an Asian Economic Community” being undertaken by ICRIER, was held on March 30, 2006. Preliminary research findings were presented by the Principal Researcher for the Project, Dr. Amita Batra, Senior Fellow, ICRIER.

Scholars from other institutes in the region were invited to present their own research in related areas. The following scholars were present at the workshop: Dr. Lu Jianren, Professor, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, Dr. Wisarn Pupphavesa, Advisor, Thailand Development Research Institute, Bangkok and Dr. Rahul Sen, Fellow, ISEAS, Singapore. Prof. Peter Drysdale from the Australian National University presented the concept paper on the “Asian Economic Community”.

The keynote address at the workshop was given by Mr. Shashank, former Foreign Secretary, Govt. of India Leading experts from research institutes, World Bank, ADB, policymakers, Govt. of India representatives and academics were present at the workshop and provided useful inputs.