Speaking to Haveeru after commencing the second of the series of meetings between SAARC and Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Hotel Jen early Wednesday, the minister expressed hopes for leniency between countries in business trades. According to minister Saeed, the objective behind holding a meeting of this nature in the Maldives is to facilitate a better environment for business and trade in the Maldives, especially in light of the major economic and infrastructural development projects put into motion by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The minister asserted that the series of meetings between SAARC and ADB will have positive effects for a country highly open to business trades such as the Maldives. “This will definitely benefit the economy of the Maldives, because it’s an opportunity to enter major markets,” said Saeed. Minister Saeed added that the programme, which is held in all the countries of SAARC, will also have other benefits such as advancements to the transportation system in the future. According to the minister, matters such as which goods each nation wants to trade and their regulations will be discussed in the meeting. Leaders of the SAARC countries had earlier decided to establish SAARC as a free trade zone. ADB supplies the technical and financial assistance to the member countries in this endeavour.