Minnu, Dr. Shakeela to represent Maldives at 6th SAARC Business Leaders Conclave

The sixth SAARC Business Leaders Conclave, organized by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is scheduled to begin in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Friday.

Two Maldivians will be participating in the three-day event; CEO of SIMDI Group, the former Minister of Health Dr. Mariyam Shakeela; and COO of Sun Media Group and President of Women in Management - Maldives, Minha Faiz Rashad.

The SAARC Business Leaders Conclave will be attended by Prime Minister of Nepal, Khadga Prasad Oli, former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Kumaratunga, former Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Secretary-General of SAARC, Amjad Hussain B. Sial and economic ministers from SAARC member countries.

Participants will enjoy the inaugural dinner on first day (March 16), and panel discussions throughout day two (March 17) and three (March 18).

Minha Faiz Rashad is scheduled to speak at the panel discussion “Tourim Promoting and Branding Our Common Cultural Heritage and Fostering Mutual Understanding” on March 17. The panel also includes Aum Chimmy Pem, Director, Tourism Council (Bhutan); Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board (Nepal); and Wouter Schalken, Sr. Tourism Specialist, The World Bank Group (Singapore).

Dr. Mariyam Shakeela is scheduled to speak at the panel discussion “Women Empowering South Asia” on March 18. The panel also includes Ms. Sushila Karki, Former Chief Justice, Supreme Court (Nepal); Shobana Kamineni, President, CII (India); and Shabana Khan, President, LMKR (Pakistan).

The ministerial panel discussion will also be held on March 18. Humyoon Rasaw, Minister of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan; Tofael Ahmed, Minister of Commerce of Bangladesh; Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Minister of Economic Affairs of Bhutan; Suresh P. Prabhu, Minister of Industry and Commerce of India; Matrika Prasad Yadav, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supply of Nepal; Rana M. Afzal Khan, Minister of State for Finance & Economic Affairs of Pakistan; and Risad Badhiutheen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka are all scheduled discuss ways to integrate the economies by enhancing mutual trade and investment in South Asia at panel discussion.