SAARC

(An economic
organization)

WHAT IS SAARC?
The full form of SAARC is South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
The concept of SAARC was first
LOGO
adopted by Bangladesh during 1977.

SAARC MEMBERS
The seven founding members of this
organization are :

SAARC
Since SA stands for South Asia in SAARC,
needless to say, this organization is concerned
with the South Asian countries.

 SAARC is an economic organization but it is also a

type of TRADE BLOC.
We know what an economic organization is but do
you know what a Trade Bloc is?

A trade bloc isa group of countries that agree to

reduce trade barriersbetween themselves. Many
trade blocs exist around the world today in order to
increase regional trade and create economic growth.

 The SAARC nations agreed upon creation of trade

bloc.
It is basically trade between the member
countries with less interference of tariffs. It is a
type of intergovernmental agreement

DO YOU KNOW?
Afghanistan joined SAARC in 2007.
SAARC is headquartered in Kathmandu.
(Nepal)

 Recently, a meeting was held in Addu, Maldives in

2011.
This organization was founded in 1985.
It has dedicated to social, economic and
cultural development for self reliance.
The foreign secretaries of the seven
countries met for the first time in Colombo in
1981.
In 1985, the members of the state met in
Colombo in 1985 and identified five broad areas
for regional cooperation.

The five areas are:

Agriculture and Rural Development.
Telecommunications, Science, Technology and
Meteorology.

Health and Population Activities.

Transport
Human Resource Development.

Objectives defined by the charter of

SAARC.
1. To promote the welfare of the people of South
Asia and to improve their quality of life.
2. To:
. Accelerate economic growth
. Social progress
. Cultural development in the region
. Provide all the individuals an opportunity to live
in dignity
. To realize their full potential

3. To promote and strengthen selective self reliance among

the countries of South Asia.
4. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in
the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific
fields.
5. To strengthen cooperation with other developing
countries.
DO YOU KNOW?
. In 2006, USA, South Korea and some other countries
made foreign requests to be granted observer status.
WHAT IS OBSERVER STATUS?
Observer statusis a privilege granted by some
organizations to non-members to give them an ability to
participate in the organization's activities.

 Countries who are granted observer status attend the

meetings and take notes and take it back to their
country for ideas, plans etc. They simply observe the
activities.
This status is normally granted by the
IGO(Intergovernmental Organizations)
Observers generally have a limited ability to
participate in the IGO, lacking the ability to vote or
propose resolutions.
SAARC has 9 observers--Australia, China, European
union,Iran,Japan,South
Korea,Mauritius,Myanmarand USA.
The 18th SAARC summit began on 26th November 2014
where heads of all member states took due part.
Present Secretary general of SAARC is Arjun
Bahadur Thapa from Nepal.

SAARC countries are desirous to promoting peace,

stability and development in the region.

They are aware of common problems, interests and

aspirations of the people of South Asia.
It is convinced that regional cooperation between
countries is mutually beneficial, desirable for
promoting welfare and improving the quality of the life
of the people.

SAARC convinced the economic,

social and technical cooperation
among the countries of South Asia
would contribute to self reliance.
The 19th SAARC summit will be
held on 9th and 10th November
2016 in Islamabad and Muree.
(exurb of Islamabad)

SAARC