The eighth finance ministerial meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) would give priority to the issues of trade and investment promotion in the region. 

The meeting has been scheduled for coming August 25 and 26 at Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Under Secretary at the Finance Ministry, International Economic Cooperation Division, Surya Pokharel, said that issue of trade facilitation and connectivity would get priority in the meeting. 

He said that ministers participating in the meeting would also hold discussion on operation of a SAARC Development Fund for the infrastructure development of South Asian countries. Similarly, the meeting would also review the implementation of the decision of the seventh SAARC finance ministerial meeting held in Nepal last year. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara is scheduled to lead the Nepali delegation to the meeting, according to his press advisor Trivuwan Poudel. RSS