ISLAMABAD  - The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) and SAARC Law have principally agreed to form a Joint Association of Professionals in South Asia with an objective to improve transparency, accountability and governance leading to poverty alleviation. This was resolved during a meeting of SCCI, SAFA, SAARC Law representatives and leading businessmen in Sri Lanka. Tariq Sayeed, who is visiting Sri Lanka, attended the meeting on behalf of SCCI, said a press release here on Saturday. "The proposal for the formation of Joint Association of professionals would be presented before the Executive Committee Meeting of SCCI for final approval" Tariq Sayeed said, adding that the former Sec-General SAARC, Nihal Rodrigo has been consented to be Special Advisor to this proposed organization. This proposal was propelled in view of the acceptance of the Presidency of SAARC by Sri Lanka at the proposed summit to be held in August, the press release added. The proposed joint associations of SAARC Professionals will be established in Sri Lanka under patronage of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka. "Once the Association is formed, its immediate task would be to organize a conference for professionals of the region on "Strategic Enterprise Governance and Poverty Alleviation" to coincide with the SAARC Summit in August" Tariq Sayeed said adding that this Theme was current in and relevant to the region. The Conference will be held at the Water's Edge on the July 30-31. According to an initially drafted concept paper, the members were of the opinion that despite a high degree of professionalism in the region there was still scope for improvement on transparency, accountability and governance leading to poverty alleviation.