SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR
REGIONAL COOPERATION(SAARC)
SAARC is the regional intergovernmental organization and
geopolitical union of nations in south Asia.
SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8th December 1985
It has eight member states ; Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Srilanka.
SAARC secretariat was established in Kathmandu, Nepal on
17th January 1987.
The organization promotes development of economic and
regional integration.
It launched South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006.
Present secretary general of SAARC is Amjad Hussein B Sial
HISTORY
The idea of cooperation in South Asia was discussed in at
least 3 conferences
1) Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi in April 1947
2) Baguio Conference in Philippines in May 1950
3) Colombo Powers Conference in Srilanka in April 1954
In late 1970s the seven south Asian nations (Bangladesh,
India, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Srilanka )
agreed upon the creation of a trade bloc and to provide a
platform for people of south Asia to work together in a spirit
of friendship and understanding.
SAARC was founded by 7 states in 1985, Afghanistan joined
as eighth member in April 2007.
Observers: Australia, China, EU, Iran, Japan, Mauritius,
Myanmar, South Korea, and US
SAARC has 6 apex bodies
1) SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)
2) South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARCLAW)
3) South Asian Federation of Accounts (SAFA)
4) South Asia Foundation (SAF)
5) South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children
(SAIEVAC)
6) Foundation of SAARC writers and Literature (FOSWAL)
OBJECTIVES
To promote welfare of people of South Asian and improve
quality of life
Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural
development in the region by providing all individuals the
opportunity to live in dignity and realize their full potential
Contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of
one another’s problems
Strengthen cooperation among themselves in international
forms on matters of common interest
Cooperate with international and regional organization with
similar aims and purposes
Strengthen cooperation with other developing countries
SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement
(SAAPTA)
SAAPTA is signed on April 11 1993 to promote and sustain mutual
trade and economic cooperation within the SAARC region
through exchange of concessions. Basic principles are:
Overall reciprocity and mutuality of advantages
Preferential measures in favor of least developed contracting
states
South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
SAFTA reached at 12th SAARC summit at Islamabad, Pakistan
It creates a framework for the creation of a Free Trade Area
covering 1.6 billion people in the region
Zero customs duty on trade of practically all products in the
region by end of 2016
CONCLUSION
SAAR’s balance sheet if success is very limited to adoption of
several conventions like SAARC regional conventions on
suppression of terrorism, SAARC convention on narcotic drugs,
and psychological substances
They have also been breakthrough in the form of agreements
forming SAFTA and SAPTA, but their success at operational
level is still expected
SAARC totally exclude political issues from their summits, this
is also one of its inherent weakness
THANK YOU
