The SAARC Council of Ministers has given its nod for the Indian proposal on liberalizing and rationalizing the Visa exemption Scheme . Nineteen categories out of the 22 who are already exempt from visa requirements, to travel to eight countries of the regional body will no longer have to go through the hassles of police reporting.The stickers provided to them by their foreign offices will also not be city specific as is the case at present. People from 19 categories, include dignitaries , members of Parliament, diplomats , people involved in SAARC projects.Although the three categories comprising businessmen, journalists and sportsmen have been taken out of the list of 22 ,they will be given liberalized visa with multi entry facility. The three categories are select journalists, business persons and sportspersons The meeting also endorsed India’s proposal for setting up of a SAARC Forum. The idea behind this forum is to bring under one roof the representatives from the government , academia and the industry to enhance economic integration within the SAARC region. A steering committee will be formed soon and its first meeting will be held before the next SAARC summit in Male. SAARC member countries also agreed on various steps concerning the SAARC University, like early convening of the Governing Board meeting, which has been delayed for long as a result of which several crucial decisions have been pending. The Governing Board will now meeting early next month which could set in motion the appointments to the Steering Committee and firming up of rules and regulations for the university. The President of the University, which has been established in Delhi, will also be selected from India. The government of India will nominate three eminent persons among whom one person will be chosen by the Governing Board. In the field of trade, the Council of Ministers decided that SAFTA ministerial meeting will take place in Maldives in May to consider ways to enhance intra-regional commerce. During the meeting, representatives of the respective countries made presentations about what they are doing in countering terrorism. The meeting also placed on record the deep appreciation for the outgoing Secretary general Dr Sheel Kant Shjarma from India and considered the appointment of Ms Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed of Maldives > She will be the first woman to hold this position.