印巴贸易正常化 推动南亚经济整合

Economists say the benefits of normalizing trade ties between the two rivals will also help boost trade in all of South Asia - one of the world’s least economically integrated regions. Regional trade is $5 billion or just five percent of South Asia's total trade.

经济学家说，两个敌国贸易关系正常化的好处也将有助于刺激南亚地区内所有的贸易活动。南亚是世界上经济整合程度最低的地区之一。印巴区域贸易值为50亿美元，只占南亚全部贸易的5%。

The head of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Rajiv Kumar, says the potential to increase regional trade is huge.

印度联合商工会主席库马尔说，区域贸易增加的潜力十分庞大。

“One of the major impediments in the greater trade relations within the region was [the] India-Pakistan standoff," Kumar said. "Now that is beginning to get resolved, I think you will see a burst of trading activity and commercial activity all across the region.”

库马尔说：“在这个区域发展更紧密的贸易关系最大的障碍之一就是印巴对立。既然现在的障碍开始消除了，相信你将会看到整个地区的贸易和商业活动的迅猛增加。”

At a regional conference last week, India made another push to engage in commerce with its neighbors. Kumar says this is important because India accounts for a large part of the region’s economy.

上星期在一个地区性会议，印度再度推动和它的邻国巴基斯坦加强商业往来。库马尔说，这很重要因为印度在地区经济占有很重的份量。

“India has also taken an amazing step by announcing that all imports from less developed neighbors - Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh - will have zero tariff duty treatment," Kumar said. "That measure also will allow greater access to the Indian market…. India is the 1,000 pound gorilla in the room.”

库马尔说：“印度还踏出了很棒的一步，它宣布所有来自尼泊尔、不丹和孟加拉这些较不发达邻国的进口，都将享有零关税待遇。这项举措也允许他们获取印度市场更大的份额。印度现在已经大到让人无法忽视。”

The World Bank estimates that trade within South Asia could rise to $20 billion if restrictions are removed. Indian leaders say boosting trade ties will also make the region more politically stable.

世界银行估计，如果各项限制获得解除，南亚的贸易活动可能增加到200亿。印度领导人说，加强贸易关系也将使区域政治更加稳定。