Presentation on South Asian Association for Regional CooperationPresented By: Abhishek Kumar Ashutosh K. Singh Dipesh Bansal Geetika Arora 24/10/10 History of SAARC The concept of SAARC was first adopted by the Bangladeshi president Ziaur Rahman. ●In the late 2000s, Indian President proposed the creation of a trade bloc consisting of South Asian countries. ● The foreign secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 2002. ● 24/10/10 South Korea and the European Union. Headquarters are in Kathmandu. ●Meetings of heads of state are usually scheduled annually. meetings of foreign secretaries..Continued. On 2 August 2006 the foreign ministers of the SAARC countries agreed in principle to grant observer status to the US.. ●On 4 March 2008.. Iran requested observer status. twice annually. Nepal ● 24/10/10 .Followed shortly by the entrance of Mauritius. DR.KEY FACTS ESTABLISHED ON 8TH DECEMBER 1985 at Dhaka • • FORMED BY 8 COUNTRIES AFGHANISTAN BECAME ITS 8TH MEMBER IN APRIL 2007 • • HEADQUARTERS-NEPAL SECREATRY.SHEEL KANT SHARMA • 24/10/10 . MEMBERS CURRENT MEMBERS •INDIA •PAKISTAN •SRILANKA •NEPAL •BHUTAN •MALDIVES •BANLADESH •AFGHANISTAN 24/10/10 . Distinct Geographical Unit Separated by mountains ●Isolated by oceans ●Distinct climate affecting the whole subcontinent ●Unique cultural setup ● 24/10/10 . Therefore dependence of the economy on southwest monsoon..Reasons for formation of SAARC. ● 24/10/10 .Common features of Indian Sub Continent Central location in Asia ●All 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 populated ●Predominance of agriculture . TECHANICAL. SOCIAL. CULTURAL & SCIENTIFIC FIELDS •STRENGHTEN COOPERATION AMONG THEMSELVES & OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 24/10/10 .OBJECTIVES •IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE & WELFARE OF PEOPLE •ECONOMIC. SOCIAL & CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT •STRENGHTEN SELF RELIANCE AMONG MEMBERS •CONTRIBUTE MUTUAL TRUST & UNDERSTANDING •ASSIST IN ECONOMIC. MULTI-CULTURISM. MASS EDUCATION 24/10/10 . SPORTS & ARTS . FIGHTING URBAN & RURAL POVERTY . CULTURE. POVERTY ØTWELFTH SUMMIT DECLARED POVERTY ERRADICATION AS THE MAIN GOAL ØTHE PLAN OF ACTION INCLUDED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.SECONDARY OBJECTIVES SAARC ALSO LOOKS IN CRITICAL AREAS LIKE POVERTY. EDUCATION. MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF COURSES •SAARC TEACHERS FORUM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED •FREE EDUCATION TO ALL CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGE OF 6-14YRS 24/10/10 .EDUCATION •OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OF HUMAN RESOURCES •EMPHASIZED ON PROMOTION OF EDUCATION •STANDARDISATION OF CURRICULA. 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 24/10/10 . SAPTA • SOUTH ASIAN PREFERENTIAL TRADING AGREEMENT • SIGNED ON 11TH APRIL 1993 IN DHAKA AND ENTERED INTO FORCE ON 7TH DECEMBER 1995 OBJECTIVES •To promote and sustain mutual trade and economic cooperation within the SAARC region through the exchange of concessions. 24/10/10 . the pattern of their external trade. 4. and trade and tariff policies and systems. negotiation of tariff reform step by step. inclusion of all products. improved and extended in successive stages through periodic reviews. taking into account their respective level of economic and industrial development. manufactures and commodities in their raw. semiprocessed and processed forms. overall reciprocity and mutuality of advantages so as to benefit equitably all Contracting States.PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING SAPTA 1. 3. 2. recognition of the special needs of the Least Developed Contracting States and agreement on concrete preferential measures in their favour. 24/10/10 . SAFTA • SOUTH ASIAN FREE TRADE AREA • SIGNED IN ISLAMABAD IN JANUARY 2004 • CAME INTO FORCE ON 1st JANUARY 2006 • TARIFF LIBERALISATION PROGRAMME (TLP) • WAS INTRODUCED • TLP COVERS ALL TARIFF LINES EXCEPT THE SENSETIVE LIST 24/10/10 • STRENGHTENS ECONOMIC COOPERATION . high level Working Groups have also been established to strengthen cooperation in the areas of Information and Communications Technology. Biotechnology.AREAS OF COOPERATION ● Agriculture and Rural Development. Health and Population Activities Women. ● 24/10/10 . ● ● ● ● ● ● Recently. Youth and Children Environment and Forestry Science and Technology and Meteorology Human Resources Development Transport. and Energy. Intellectual Property Rights. Tourism. 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. service the meetings of the Association and serve as the channel of communication between SAARC and other international organisations. ● Its role is to coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities. seven Directors and the General Services Staff. ● The Secretariat comprises the Secretary General. ● 24/10/10 . The SAARC Secretariat 24/10/10 . SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre. Maldives 7.SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC).VARIOUS CENTRES OF SAARC 1. Pakistan 9.SAARC Disaster Management Centre. Dhaka 3.SAARC Energy Centre.SAARC Tuberculosis Centre (STC). Nepal 8. Dhaka 2.SAARC Agricultural Information Centre (SAIC). Islamabad 6.SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC).SAARC Information Centre. India 24/10/10 .SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC). Kathmandu 4. New Delhi 5. ● During the 12th and 13th SAARC summits.Political issues SAARC 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. ● 24/10/10 . extreme emphasis was laid upon greater cooperation between the SAARC members to fight terrorism. in Dhaka. ●Under this agreement. at the 12th SAARC Summit at Islamabad.Free trade agreement In 1993. ● This agreement went into force on January 1. SAARC countries signed an agreement to gradually lower tariffs within the region. SAARC members will bring their duties down to 20 per cent by 2009. SAARC countries devised the South Asia Free Trade Agreement which created a framework for the establishment of a free trade area covering 1. ● Eleven years later. 2008.4 billion people. ● 24/10/10 . July 2008 SAARC Conventionon Narcotics Drugs SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism Additional Protocol on Terrorism.SAARC CONVENTIONS SAARC Convention on Combating and Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution Convention on Promotion of Welfare of Children Convention on Mutual Assistance on Criminal Matters. Jan 2004 24/10/10 . from 2829 April 2010. around the theme of climate change. 24/10/10 .16th SAARC Summit The Sixteenth Meeting of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was held in Thimphu. Bhutan. ● 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. ●Develop national plans and regional projects on protecting and safeguarding the archeological and historical infrastructure of South Asia from climate change adverse effects. ● 24/10/10 .SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change Plant ten million trees over 20102015 as part of a regional afforestation and reforestation campaign. nk ha T !!!! !!!! u! ! Yo 24/10/10 .