South Asian summit creates dialogue for young economists

The Department of Economics of the University of Colombo will be holding the 7th South Asian Economics Students’ Meet (SAESM) from November 29 to December 1 on the theme Economic Freedom and Poverty Reduction in South Asia.

The event is partnered by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation with the main corporate sponsor being John Keells Holdings. The Colombo university said SAESM has expanded horizons since its humble start in 2004 to pave the way for a broader framework for the budding economists in the region to exchange their knowledge and insights on issues of each country and to deliberate on policy strategies.

“It is a unique event as it is the only economic dialogue of the undergraduates in the region. While the Meet provides a unique platform to students to have a dialogue and to share knowledge on contemporary issues in Economics with their fellow students in the South Asian region, it also enables them to enhance their soft skills and competitiveness through a range of activities including knowledge-based quizzes, essays, etc,” the university said in a statement.

The SAESM is an initiative of the undergraduates from South Asian countries to share their knowledge and experience in economic policy, issues and research findings. Economics undergraduates from five leading universities in the region -- the Dhaka University of Bangladesh, Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan, Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Delhi University in India and the University of Colombo gather in Colombo for this event.

The SAESM was inaugurated in 2004 with its first Meet in Delhi as a pilot project to meet the growing demand for sharing of knowledge in the field of economics, policy and issues that are unique to the SAARC region.

This was followed by meetings in Lahor (2005), Dhaka (2006), Colombo (2007), Delhi (2008) and Dhaka (2009). Colombo SAESM 2010 will be ceremonially inaugurated German Ambassador Jens Ploetner and will be held at the auditorium of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in Colombo.