§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the way in which the UK is advancing its policies on sustainable development through international trade with South Asia. [70998]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 15 February 1999]: The Department of Trade and Industry, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development (DfID), consistently work together with the Governments of South Asia to promote sustainable development in the region through both international trade and overseas investment.
Trade liberalisation and increased international trade have also enabled developing countries such as those in South Asia to derive more benefit from access to overseas markets and from inward investment. This in turn increases prosperity and enables developing countries to raise their standards of environmental and social 666W protection. We will continue to support actively this process both bilaterally and through international fora such as the WTO and EU where we work to enhance access for trade from South Asia.
The UK is a major trading and investment partner for the countries of South Asia. An area critical to sustainable development is that of infrastructure. In this regard the Department works closely with the private sector and other bodies, such as DfID, the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Commonwealth Development Corporation, to maximise the UK's contribution to the development of South Asia.