"If there is political will, economic integration of South Asia could be made quicker as happened in the case of Asean," he told diplomatic correspondents at his office yesterday.

South Asia is the home of maximum number of the poor as well as maximum number of middle class people that underlines the importance of poverty alleviation and enhanced intra-regional trade, which at present is less than four percent, he said.

Reaz Rahman, who is also the chief coordinator of the 13th Saarc summit, said the signing of four regional agreements regarding avoidance of double taxation, simplification of customs procedure, protection of promotion of investment and Saarc Arbitration Centre would be a major step towards the economic integration of the region.

He, however, said it is a long way to go for South Asian Economic Union that would require more regional cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, harmonisation of customs, single currency, and so on.

The Dhaka summit will also focus on implementation of social charter, additional protocol to stop financing of terrorism, disaster management with early warning system, strong Saarc secretariat and simplification of visa regime in the region, the foreign affairs advisor said.

Replying to a question, he said Bangladesh as the next chair of Saarc will emphasise taking up poverty reduction projects coordinating various funds and enhancing intra-regional trade.

"It's true that not a single project on regional basis has been taken up in the last two decades," he said, adding, "There is a feeling among the Saarc member countries that the third decade should be a decade of implementation."

Bangladesh always believes in "what unite us than what divide us", he said, adding that Bangladesh always believes in pragmatism and harmonisation and has been playing instrumental role to go ahead with Saarc for the development of the people of the region.

"South Asia is the place where we can do many positive things...we have the potentials and prospects, so time has come to take quick positive moves towards economic integration," he said.

Asked about whether the summit will discuss new membership and giving observer status to other countries, Reaz Rahman said there is no such provision or criteria in the Saarc charter.