An association of 18 countries stretching from southern Africa to Southeast Asia pledged Friday to ease trade barriers and promote their tourism and fisheries industries. The Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation also discussed strengthening relations with Britain, Japan, China, France and Egypt, which aren't in the group but have expressed interest in the association's efforts to boost economic ties. «We agreed to give priority to intra-regional tourism and cooperation in fisheries,» Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka's foreign minister, told reporters at the end of the five-day meeting. He added that a proposed preferential trade agreement within the region was still in its early stages, and warned that with 18 countries involved «rapid progress is just not possible.» The association was launched in 1997 and seeks to lower impediments to trade and investment while promoting links at the government, business and academic levels. Its members are Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Australia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Sri Lanka. Kadirgamar said China had sent a «strong delegation,» underscoring its commitment to the organization.
