SAARC (SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION
FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION)
ü December
8, 1985 by Ziaur Rahman.
ü December
8 - SAARC Charter Day.
ü Original
Strength – 7
ü Strength
– 8 (2007)
·
Bangladesh
·
Bhutan
·
India
·
Maldives
·
Nepal
·
Pakistan
·
Sri Lanka
·
Afghanistan
ü Headquarter - Kathmandu (Nepal).
ü Official language - English.
ü Annual meetings
ü Foreign secretaries - twice
ü 9
observer states
·
Australia
·
China
·
European Union (28)
·
Iran
·
Japan
·
Mauritius
·
Myanmar
·
South Korea
·
United States of America
OBJECTIVES:
ü
Welfare of the people & increase quality of life.
ü
Increase the economic growth
ü
Promote social progress & cultural development.
ü
To secure cooperation in other international organizations.
ü Secretariat
-January 16, 1987 in Kathmandu.
ü Secretariat
- Secretary General appointed by the Council of Ministers from member
countries.
ü S-G
term - 3 years.
ü South
Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) came into force on January 1, 2006.
ü SAFTA
members bring down the duties by 20%.
ü SAARC
Youth Award is presented annually for those who dedicated their lives for the
individual causes to improve situations in their own country as well as for the
SAARC region.
|
CURRENCY OF THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN THE SAARC GROUP
·
Afghanistan - Afghan Afghani
·
Bangladesh - Taka
·
Bhutan - Ngultrum
·
India - Rupee
·
Maldives - Rufiyaa
·
Nepal - Rupee
·
Pakistan - Rupee
·
Sri Lanka - Rupee
|
ü
1st Summit - Dhaka - 1985.
ü
2nd summit Bangalore,1986 (first in India)
ü
So far 3 summits in India. New Delhi in 2005 and 2007.
ü
16th summit - Thimphu (Bhutan) 2010. First time held in
Bhutan.
ü
17th Summit Addu City (Maldives)-2011.
ü
No summit in Afghanistan so far
ü
“Building Bridges” -theme Summit.
ü
This means to bridge the gaps created by
uneven economic development and income distribution.
ü
18th summit
was held Nepal – 2014
ü
The theme is ‘Deeper
Integration for Peace and Prosperity’
ü
19th summit
will be in Pakistan
SAARC
DECADES:
ü
2006 to 2015-Decade of Poverty Alleviation
ü
2010 to 2020- Decade of Intra
Regional Connectivity
IMPORTANT
SAARC SUMMITS:
ü
1st - Dhaka -
1985
ü
14th - New Delhi - 2007 - Admission
of Afghanistan
ü
SA University established - 2010 - New Delhi.
ü
SA University started economics and Computer Science courses.
ü
India is funding 79 percent.
ü
SAPTA: December 1, 1995 to promote mutual trade and economic
cooperation.
ü
SAFTA: Came into force in January 2006. This is meant for the
integration of customs union to have common market and economic integration.
SAARC
PROJECTS:
·
Women Empowerment
·
Maternal Health Care
·
ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme)
INSTITUTIONS
OF SAARC:
ü
STOMD – SAARC Terror Offences Monitoring Desk
ü
SDOMD – SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk
ü
SACOSAN – SAARC Conference on Sanitation
ü
SAME – SAARC Market for Electricity. This is established through the
Thimphu declaration.