SAARC

Presented By:Shubham

AbhinavManeeshSachinSubharajShamikh

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an organization of South Asian nations.

Founded in 1985

Dedicated to economic, technological, Social and Cultural Development.

Headquarters: Katmandu, NepalOfficial Language: EnglishDemoyn: South AsianMembership:8 members 9 observersGovernment organizations:

chairman: Mahindra Rajapakshasecretary general: Sheel Kant Sharma

Establishment: December 8, 1985Total area covered: 5130486 km squareGdp: US $ 4,074,031 millionPer capita: US $ 2,777 Official website: www.saarc-sec.org

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

Eight founding members are: Bangladesh India Sri Lanka Bhutan Maldives Nepal Pakistan Afghanistan

Observers are: Australia, China, Burma, Europian Union, Iran, USA, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius.

HISTORY

The concept of SAARC was first adopted by Bangladesh. In the late 2000s, Indian President proposed the creation of a trade bloc consisting of South Asian countries. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was again mooted in May 2001. The foreign secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 2002.

Reasons for formation of SAARC..Common features of Indian Sub Continent

Central location in AsiaAll countries gained independence

after Second World War As a result of British Colonialism, all

countries have same cultural background and history

The region is poor and over populatedPredominance of agricultureDependence of the economy on

southwest monsoon

OBJECTIVES

IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE & WELFARE OF PEOPLE

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL & CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

STRENGHTEN SELF RELIANCE AMONG MEMBERS

CONTRIBUTE MUTUAL TRUST & UNDERSTANDING

ASSIST IN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, TECHANICAL, CULTURAL & SCIENTIFIC FIELDS

STRENGHTEN COOPERATION AMONG THEMSELVES & OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The SAARC Secretariat

The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987and was inaugurated by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal.

Its role is to coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities, service the meetings of the Association and serve as the channel of communication between SAARC and other international organizations.

The Secretariat comprises the Secretary General, seven Directors and the General Services Staff

Areas Of CooperationAgriculture and Rural DevelopmentHealth and Population ActivitiesWomen, Youth and ChildrenEnvironment and ForestryScience and Technology and MeteorologyHuman Resources DevelopmentT r a n s p o r t.Recently, high level Working Groups have

also been established to strengthen cooperation in the areas of Information and Communications Technology, Biotechnology, Intellectual Property Rights, Tourism, and Energy

Political issuesSAARC has intentionally laid more stress on "core

issues" mentioned above rather than more decisive political issues like the Kashmir dispute and the Sri Lankan civil war.

SAARC has also refrained itself from interfering in the internal matters of its member states.

During the 12th and 13th SAARC summits, extreme emphasis was laid upon greater cooperation between the SAARC members to fight terrorism.Free trade

agreement In 1993, SAARC countries signed an agreement to gradually lower tariffs within the region, in Dhaka.

Eleven years later, at the 12th SAARC Summit at Islamabad, SAARC countries devised the South Asia Free Trade Agreement which created a framework for the establishment of a free trade area covering 1.4 billion people.

This agreement went into force on January 1, 2008. ●Under this agreement, SAARC members will bring their duties down to 20 per cent by 2009.

Information, Communication & Media

To minimize disparites within and among member states.

To herness telecommunication technology for the social and economic upliftment.

To evolve a cordinated approach on issues of common concern in international telecommunication fora.Science &

Technology Standardization and laboratory testing Project testing SMRC

ECONOMICSAPTASAFTA

SAPTASouth Asian preferential trading agreementSigned on 11th April 1993 in Dhaka and

entered into force on 7th December 1995.To promote and sustain mutual trade and

economic cooperation within the SAARC region through the exchange of concessions.

PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING SAPTA Overall reciprocity and mutuality of

advantages so as to benefit equitably all contracting states, taking into account their respective level of economic and industrial development, the pattern of their external trade, and trade and tariff policies and systems.

Negotiation of tariff reform step by step, improved and extended in successive stages through periodic reviews.

Recognition of the special needs of the Least Developed Contracting States and agreement on concrete preferential measures in their favour.

Inclusion of all products, manufactures and commodities in their raw, semi processed and processed forms.

SAFTA

South Asian free trade agreement.

Signed in Islamabad in January 2004.

Came into force on 1st January 2006.

Tariff liberalization programme (tlp) was introduced.

Tlp covers all tariff lines except the sensitive list .

Strengthens economic cooperation.

SAARC ALSO LOOKS IN CRITICAL AREAS LIKE POVERTY, EDUCATION,

CULTURE, SPORTS & ARTS Poverty:

Twelfth summit declared poverty erradication as the main goal.

The plan of action included human development, fighting urban & rural poverty , multi-culturalism, mass education

Education:Optimum utilization of human resources Emphasized on promotion of educationStandardisation of curricula, mutual recognition

of courses Saarc teachers forum has been establishedFree education to all children between the age

of 6-14yrs.

Culture sports & arts:Practical measures for protection

conservation and maintenance of cultural & pilgrimage sites

Encouragement of contemporary arts & culture

Last saarc cultural festival was held in dhaka

Cooperation in the field of culture.

SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change Plant ten million trees over 2010

2015 as part of a regional afforestation and reforestation campaign

Develop national plans and regional projects on protecting and safeguarding the archeological and historical infrastructure of South Asia from climate change adverse effects

Stress the imperative of biodiversity conservation and monitoring of mountain ecology in the region

Convention on Cooperation on the Environment at an early date to enable its entry into force.

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