KATHMANDU, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The ministerial level meeting of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) ended on Wednesday in Nepali capital Kathmandu with a commitment to include service sector in SAFTA and facilitate intra-regional trade.

    According to Thursday's The Kathmandu Post daily, the meeting has also set the timetable to shorten the list of sensitive products, reduction of customs duty and enforcement of service trade.

    "The discussions were basically focused on the removal of non-tariff barriers," said Commerce Minister Rajendra Mahato.

    The commerce ministers of SAARC have agreed to include service trade in SAFTA after five months.

    "It will be officially included during the 16th SAARC summit to be held in Bhutan in April 2010," said Mahato.

    A committee of the experts group will give final shape to the agreement on service trade. According to the Commerce Ministry, the experts group will finalize the preamble of the agreement, mode of services and the schedule of commitments before 16th SAARC summit.