saarc

Presented by – CHHAVI MITTAL

INTRODUCTIONSAARC 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.  Bangladesh3.  Bhutan4.  India5.  Maldives6.  Nepal7.  Pakistan8.  Sri Lanka

Observers

1. Australia2. China3. European Union4. Japan5. Iran6. Mauritius7. Myanmar8. S. Korea9. 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

Council

Council of Ministers Standing

Committee

Programming Committee

Technical Committee

Secretariat

Apex policy making body

•Policy formulation•Review of functioning•New areas of cooperation

•Co-ordinate the programme•Determine inter sectored priorities•Scrutinising budget•Finalizing annual schedule

•Monitor and execute the project•Submit reports•Co-ordinates and

monitors implementation of activities

Organizational Structure of SAARC

The Agreement on SAPTA was 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.. 

SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA)

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.

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

SOUTH ASIAN FREE TRADE AREA (SAFTA)

List of SAARC summitso First SAARC Summit, Dhaka, 1985o Second SAARC Summit, Bangalore, 1986o Third SAARC Summit, Kathmandu, 1987o Fourth SAARC Summit, Islamabad, 1988o Fifth SAARC Summit, Male, 1990o Sixth SAARC Summit, Colombo, 1991o Seventh SAARC Summit, Dhaka,1993o Eighth SAARC Summit, New Delhi, 1995o Ninth SAARC Summit, Male,1997o Tenth SAARC Summit, Colombo,1998o Eleventh SAAEC Summit, Kathmandu, 2002o Twelfth SAARC Summit, Islamabad, 2004o Thirteenth SAARC Summit, Dhaka, 2005o Fourteenth SAARC Summit, New Delhi, 2007o Fifteenth SAARC Summit, Colombo, 2008o Sixteenth SAARC Summit, Thimphu, 2010o Seventeenth SAARC Summit, Addu City, 2011o 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 SAARCECONOMIC 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 hasn’t 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 couldn’t achieve much.

Conclusion The organization itself hasn’t 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