Presented by CHHAVI MITTAL

INTRODUCTION
SAARC

is an economic and
political organization.

SAARC

was established on
December 8, 1985.

In

terms of population more than

2 billion people.

It

aims to accelerate the process

of
economic and social development
in Member States.

 SAARC

provides a platform
to work together in the
spirit understanding.

The

headquarters of the
SAARC Secretariat are in
Kathmandu, Nepal

Origin of SAARC
Conception (1977-1980)
Late president of Bangladesh Ziar ur rehman
May 2, 1980
Discussed idea with leaders of South Asian Countries

Meeting of Foreign Secretaries (1981-1983)

Met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981
Identified five broad areas for regional cooperation

Meeting of Foreign Ministers (1983-1985)

In New Delhi in 1983
They adopted the Declaration on South Asian Regional
Cooperation (SARC).

The Summits( 1985-now)

First SAARC Summit held on 7-8 December in 1985 in Dhaka
The Heads of State or Government of seven countries
Adopted the Charter formally establishing the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Current Members
1.

Afghanistan

(joined the

organization in 2007)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka

Observers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Australia
China
European Union
Japan
Iran
Mauritius
Myanmar
S. Korea
USA

Potential Future Members

Myanmar
Indonesia
China
Russia
South Africa
Iran

Principles
Respect

for sovereignty,
territorial integrity, political
equality and independence of
all members states
Non-interference in the internal
matters is one of its objectives
Cooperation for mutual benefit
All decisions to be taken
unanimously and need a
quorum of all eight members
All bilateral issues to be kept
aside and only
multilateral(involving many
countries) issues to be
discussed without being
prejudiced by bilateral issues

Aims and Objectives

Welfare of the people of south Asia.

Economic growth, social progress and

cultural development .

Strengthen selective self-reliance among

the countries of south Asia.

Understanding and appreciation of one

another's problems.

Strengthen cooperation among themselves

as well as with other developing countries
and international and regional organizations

Maintain peace in the region.

Areas of co-operation

Agriculture & Biotechnology

Trade & Finance
Education
Information , Communication & Media
Science & Technology

Energy & Environment

Tourism & Social Development
Culture
Health
Population and child welfare

Security

Organizational Structure of SAARC

Council

Apex policy
making body

Council
of
Ministers
Standing
Committee
Programming
Committee
Technical Committee
Secretariat

Policy formulation
Review of
functioning
Co-ordinate
New
areas of the
programme
cooperation
Determine inter
sectored priorities
Scrutinising budget
Finalizing annual
schedule
Monitor and
execute
the project
Submit
reports and
Co-ordinates
monitors
implementation
of
activities

SAARC Preferential Trading

Arrangement
(SAPTA)

The Agreement on SAPTAwas signed on 11 April

1993 to promote and sustain mutual trade and
economic cooperation within the SAARC region
through the exchange of concessions.
The basic principles underlying SAPTA are:
Overall reciprocity and mutuality of advantages
Negotiation of tariff reform step by step
Preferential measures in favour of Least Developed
Contracting States
Inclusion of all products, manufactures and
commodities in their raw, semi-processed and
processed forms.
.

SOUTH ASIAN FREE TRADE

AREA
TheSouth Asian Free Trade Area(SAFTA) is
(SAFTA)
an agreement reached on 6 January
2004 at the
12TH SAARC Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan
The objective of the agreement is

Promote competition in the area

and provide equitable benefits to
the countries involved.

Bringing transparency and integrity

among the nations.

Increase the level of trade and

economic cooperation among the
SAARC nations

Provide special preference to the

Least Developed Countries
(LDCs)among the SAARC nations.

List of SAARC summits

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

First SAARC Summit, Dhaka, 1985

Second SAARC Summit, Bangalore, 1986
Third SAARC Summit, Kathmandu, 1987
Fourth SAARC Summit, Islamabad, 1988
Fifth SAARC Summit, Male, 1990
Sixth SAARC Summit, Colombo, 1991
Seventh SAARC Summit, Dhaka,1993
Eighth SAARC Summit, New Delhi, 1995
Ninth SAARC Summit, Male,1997
Tenth SAARC Summit, Colombo,1998
Eleventh SAAEC Summit, Kathmandu, 2002
Twelfth SAARC Summit, Islamabad, 2004
Thirteenth SAARC Summit, Dhaka, 2005
Fourteenth SAARC Summit, New Delhi, 2007
Fifteenth SAARC Summit, Colombo, 2008
Sixteenth SAARC Summit, Thimphu, 2010
Seventeenth SAARC Summit, Addu City, 2011
Eighteenth SAARC Summit, Kathmandu, 2014

EIGHTEENTH SAARC
SUMMIT

The 18th SAARC Summit,

26-27 Nov, 2014
18th

SAARC Summit Kathmandu,

Nepal
Place : Rastriya Sabha Griha Sanandan
Raj, Kathmandu
Host : Sushil Koirala, the Nepalese Prime
Minister
Theme : Deeper Integration for Peace
and Prosperity

The 18th SAARC Summit,

26-27 Nov,2014
Main

Highlight :A standoff between India and

Pakistan prevailed over the summit
Aftermath : The 18th SAARC summit ended with a
formal handshake between the Prime Ministers of
India and Pakistan
Declaration
Intra regional trade
Energy cooperation
Agriculture food and security
Environment
Telecommunication
Combating terrorism
Strengthening the SAARC process

ACHIEVEMENTS OF SAARC
ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

SAPTA(SAARC preferential trading arrangement)was signed on

7 December, 1995

SAFTA(South Asian Free Trade Area) was signed in Islamabad

in January 2004

SAARC chamber of commerce and industry (SCCI)

SAARC constitutes South Asian Development Fund(SADF)

Signed an agreement of mutual assistance

Avoidance of double taxation were signed.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Promoted global objective of shelter for all

Regional food security essence

TERRORISM AND DRUG TRAFFICKING

Convention on terrorism was signed in November,1987

SAARC convention on narcotic drugs signed on November, 1990

SAARC terrorist offences monitoring desk(STOMD)

SAARC drug offences monitoring desk(SDOMD)

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONTACT

SAVE (SARRC Audio Visual Exchange) was implemented.
Library of SAARC
Talks between countries leads to the diffusion of tension

LITERACY AND EDUCATION

Till

2013 going to establish a common university for education in

Delhi

FAILURES OF SAARC
SAARC

has intentionally laid more stress on "core issues"

rather than more decisive political issues.

SAARC

is unable to play a crucial role in integrating South

Asia
The

bloc hasnt moved away from declaration of intent to

concrete implementation

SAARC

has failed to promote trust and understanding

between member nations

SAARC

has brought no major changes in the economic

conditions of the nations or for improving the quality of lives

.
SAPTA

AND SAFTA couldnt achieve much.

Conclusion
The

organization itself hasnt become viable enough to

promote peace, harmony and economic integration or
prevent conflicts in the region.
This regional organization has failed to address key issues
in South Asia.
Member nations have not been able to establish adequate
trust or satisfactory trade agreements as a result of
conflicts.
It should focus to be successfully used as an intermediate
to talk about issues of peace, defence and development
with international organisations and agencies to
encourage welfare of the member nations.
SAARC summits should operate as a medium where
member states converse not the essential causes of
apprehension in mutual relations amongst member nation