SAARC
SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION
INTRODUCTION
■ Intergovernmental Organization for Economic
Development and regional integration.
■ Words most populated region and most fertile area.
3% of worlds area
21% of world’s population
3.8% of global economy(2.9 trillion US dollars)
■ The SAARC nations have problems and solutions to the
problems in common such as poverty, illiteracy,
malnutrition, natural disasters, internal conflicts,
industrial and technological backwardness, low GDP, and
poor socio-economic condition
HISTORY
■ Idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was discussed in
atleast three conferences:
The Asians Relations Conference in New Delhi in April 1947
The Baguio Conference in the Philippines in May 1950
The Colombo Powers conference in April 1954
■ The first concrete proposal for establishing a framework for
regional cooperation in South Asia was made by the late
president of Bangladesh , Zia- ur- Rehman, on May 2, 1980.
■ The Foreign Secretaries of the then seven countries met for the
first time in Colombo in April 1981.
■ SAARC was established on 8 December 1985 by the Heads of
State or Government of India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
STRUCTURE
■ Council of Ministers – The Council of Ministers comprises the
foreign ministers and they meet generally two times annually.
Policy formulation
Reviewing the progress of regional cooperation
Identifying newer areas of cooperation
Setting up additional mechanisms as required
■ Standing Committee -It comprises the foreign secretariat of the
member countries.
overall monitoring and coordination of programme of cooperation
approval of projects and programmes, and the modalities of their
financing
determination of inter-sectoral priorities
mobilisation of regional and external resources
identification of new areas of cooperation based on appropriate
studies.
STRUCTURE
■ Technical Committee-representatives of the member states shall be
responsible for the implementation, coordination and monitoring of
the programmes in their respective areas of cooperation.
Determination of the potential and the scope of regional
cooperation in agreed areas.
Formulation of programmes and preparation of project.
Monitoring of progress in implementation.
The Technical Committees shall submit periodic reports to the
Standing Committee
The Chairmanship of the Technical Committees shall normally
rotate among Member States in alphabetical order every two
years.
■ ACTION COMMITTEES
The Standing Committee may set up Action Committees
comprising Member States concerned with implementation of
projects involving more than two but not all Member States.
Structure
• Secretariat -headed by the Secretary-general appointed by the
Council of Ministers.
• Coordination and execution of activities conducted by SAARC
• Monitoring the SAARC meetings
• Work as a communication link between SAARC and other
international summits and forums.
SAARC SPECIALIZED
BODIES
SAARC Arbitration Council
Inter-governmental body
Office in Pakistan is mandated to provide a legal framework/forum
within the region for fair and efficient settlement of commercial,
industrial, trade, banking, investment, and such other disputes, as
may be referred to it by the member states and their people.
SAARC Development Fund
(SDF):
Its primary objective is the funding of project-based collaboration
in social sectors such as poverty alleviation, development, etc.
SDF is governed by a Board consisting of representatives from the
Ministry of Finance of the Member States. The Governing Council
of SDF (Finance Ministers of MSs) oversees the functioning of the
South Asian Regional
Standards Organization
• South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) has its
Secretariat at Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• It was established to achieve and enhance coordination and
cooperation among SAARC member states in the fields of
standardization and conformity assessment and is aimed to
develop harmonized Standards for the region to facilitate intra-
regional trade and to have access in the global market.
South Asian University
• South Asian University (SAU) is an international university, located
in India. Degrees and Certificates awarded by the SAU are at par
with the respective Degrees and Certificates awarded by the
National Universities/ Institutions.
Member Observer
States States
Afghanistan Australia
Bangladesh China
Bhutan European Union
Pakistan Japan
India Iran
Nepal Mauritius
Sir Lanka Myanmar
Maldives South Korea
USA
Objectives of SAARC
Improve the quality of life of people.
Economic and social growth.
Mutual understandings.
Cooperation among countries.
Cultural development
Principle of SAARC
Respect other states.
No interference in others states internal issues.
Cooperation for mutual benefits.
All multilateral issues will be discussed.
Regional Centers
These Centers are managed by Governing Boards comprising
representatives from all the Member States, SAARC Secretary-
General and the Ministry of Foreign/External Affairs of the Host
Government
The Director of the Centre acts as Member Secretary to the
Governing Board, which reports to the Programming Committee.
SAARC REGIONAL CENTERS
SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka 1989
SAARC Energy Centre (SEC), Islamabad 2006
SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Colombo, Sri Lanka 2009
SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Centre (STAC), Kathmandu
1992
SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), India 2016
Areas of Cooperation
Areas of Cooperation
Agricultural and Rural Development
Environment, Natural Disasters and Biotechnology
Education, Security and Culture
Economic, Trade and Finance
Energy, Transport, Science and Technology
Information and Poverty Alleviation
Social Affairs
Human Resource Development and Tourism
Visa Exemption
The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme was launched in 1992.
At the Fourth Summit (Islamabad, 29-31 December 1988) certain
categories of dignitaries should be entitled to a Special Travel
document, which would exempt them from visas within the region.
As directed by the Summit, the Council of Ministers regularly kept
under review the list of entitled categories.
The Visa Stickers are issued by the respective Member States The
validity of the Visa Sticker is generally for one year.
Achievements of SAARC
• SAPTA (South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement) was signed
on 7th December 1995. The agreement reflected the desire of the
member states to promote and sustain mutual trade and economic
cooperation within SAARC region.
• SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) was signed in 2004 in
Islamabad and it took force in 2006. The purpose of this agreement
was to create SAARC a free trade area by reducing custom duties
of all traded goods.
• SAARC Development Fund, created in 2010 by the member
states, Its objective was to promote the welfare of the people of
South Asian region to improve their quality of life, economic growth
and social progress.
Achievements of SAARC
• SAARC Food Bank was created by the member states to facilitate
as an emergency source for facing a crises in shortage or natural
disaster.
• South Asian University (2010), at this time University is offering
Postgraduate and doctoral programmes in several disciplines.
• Signed agreements of mutual assistance.
• Convention on terrorism was signed in November 1987.
• SAARC Convention on Narcotic drugs signed in November 1990.
Failures of SAARC
• SAARC failed to hold 11 annual summits due to political reasons.
• The 19th annual summit was planned to be held in Islamabad in
2016, but got cancelled PM Narendra Modi bycotted SAARC
summit.
• India tries to dominate the function and activities of SAARC.
• They lack financial resources and advance technologies.
• Bilateral disputes and differences.
• Food security reserve failed to meet the needs of people in worst
natural calamity in Bangladesh Cyclone (1991), Pakistan
earthquake (2005) and floods in Pakistan (2010).
Failures of SAARC
• The intra regional trade of SAARC amounted to $40.5billion which
constitutes just 5% of member countries trade. SAARC has failed
to even come up with a free trade agreement.
Challenges of SAARC
• Indo-Pak relations: Escalated tension and conflict between India
and Pakistan is the biggest challenge of SAARC, both india and
Pakistan are the members of the SAARC and they don’t have good
relations.
• The dispute over Kashmir’s issue has been standing in the way of
lasting peace and prosperity of the Indian Subcontinent as well as
SAARC.
Conclusion
• Due to political interference and conflict among countries SAARC
was unable to accomplish its objectives during the last 25 years.
Recommendations
• Manage conflict peacefully.
• Work stability rather than destabilizing each other.
• Increase the volume of regional trade.
THANK YOU
