The three-day conference rolled up yesterday with a set of resolutions that expressed concern over the impact on trade and loss of jobs in some countries in the Asia Pacific region after the expiry of Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) in December, 2004.

It also called for a fair play apart from free play in international, regional and sub-regional trade.

Briefing newsmen, President of Bangladesh Employers Federation Anis Ud Dowla said the delegates also felt the need for economic cooperation and understanding among the countries so that the region could develop as whole.

Representatives from 21 countries participated in the conference and they unanimously decided to formulate a common approach for resolving issues in the region.

The next conference will be held after three years, the date and venue of which are yet to be fixed.

The employers identified political and economic aspects for globalisation. They felt that democracy in political sector and the free trade in economic policy are must for the process globalisation.

The participants observed a few countries in the region could not be benefited by the globalisation because the share of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the world trade declined over a decade.

Regarding the flow of Foreign Direct investment (FDI) the participants observed that the foreign investors come to countries where they see the growth potential.