NEW DELHI, Aug. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Asserting that India's approach towards SAARC is positive and constructive, New Delhi expressed Friday confidence that South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) will become operational from Jan. 1, 2006.

    "For us, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a means by which our entire region can progress and prosper. I am confident that, as mandated by the 12th SAARC summit,South Asia will see the free trade area from Jan. 1, 2006," the Press Trust of India quoted minister of state for commerce E. V. S.K. Elangovan as saying at a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry seminar.

    Noting that the most significant value addition government of India has brought to its neighborhood policy is the induction of amajor dose of economic content, he said there is a need to build on this foundation.

    "SAARC must transform itself from an association sponsored by governments to one that is energized by the people. It must becomepeople-oriented," Elangovan said.

    Pointing out that India was conscious of the fact that limited tariff concessions under SAFTA, both in terms of scope and depth, had not resulted in boosting trade, he said there is a need to seehow the world has moved forward in terms of regional integration in the last decade.

    SAARC members offer each other a combined market of 1.4 billionpeople, one in five of the world's population. Enditem