SAARC - Group Presentation

SAARCSheikh Abir AhmedNaushin tabasshumMd.Habibur Rahman HabibHumaira Tasnim MoonSayed Maksudur Rahman Turzo

Group Presentation

Group Members Group-4

Sheikh Abir Ahmed

Naushin Tabasshum

Sayed Maksudur Rahman Turzo

Md.Habibur Rahman Habib

Humaira Tasnim Moon

SAARC An Eco-political organization

Regional intergovernmental

organization & geopolitical union of

nations in South Asia

8 Member States, 9 Observer States

As of 2015, SAARC comprises 3% of

the world's area, 21% of the world's

population and 3.8% (US$ 2.9 trillion)

of the global economy

It promotes development of economic and

regional integration

In 2006 launched SAFTA (South Asian Free

Trade Area)

Maintains diplomatic relations with “UN” as an

observer and also good relations with “EU”

It’s the Largest Regional Organization in the world

(Covers more than 2 million People)

Historical Background

Idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was discussed in at least 3 conferences

1. Asians Relations Conference in New Delhi in April 1947 2. Baguio Conference in the Philippines in May 19503. Colombo Powers Conference in April 1954

Zia-ur-Rahman on May 2,1980 , first made the concrete proposal for establishing a framework for regional cooperation in South Asia

Established in 8 December 1985

Abul Ahsan became the 1st Secretary General of SAARC

Has No Official Anthem like ASEAN

1st SAARC summit held on 7-8 December, 1985

Member states: 7 founding members

Afghanistan's request to join approved in 13th summit of SAARC in 2005, at Dhaka

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

ObserversMyanmar

wants to be a permanent

member from an observer

Russia expressed its

interest to become an observer

South Africa has

participated in meetings

Aim of saarc

Welfare Accelerate economic growth, social

progress Collective self-reliance Promote active collaboration and

mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields

Activity and Organs of SAARC

 South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)

Six apex bodies to ensure regional

institution

Secretariat

At a glance last (19th )

SAARC summit

Hosting country: Pakistan (Islamabad) India ,Bangladesh ,Bhutan, Afghanistan

didn’t join the summit Reasons behind it : 1. Uri issue 2. War crime trial 3. To keep alliance strong

SAARC and Regional Power Politics

The rivalry between two regional states India and

Pakistan is not a new issue.

Initially India was not interested in forming such group

but after liberalization of economy and success of

NAFTA and ASEAN, It has been proceeded.

But in this association, India perceived to behave like

hegemon and Pakistan was acting as obstructionist in

India’s ambition to play a legitimate role.

Pakistan had that power and capabilities so it tried to play

China card over India and situation became conflictive.

In recent summit of November 2014, Pakistan pushed for

enhanced role of China.

So India cannot dream for becoming regional superpower

over Pakistan without making SAARC functional in

objective.

India thus left the big brother role but the conflictive relation

between these two impeded the overall success of the

association.

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Comparison between SAARC and ASEAN

Both are regional associations and yet ASEAN met up it’s overall successful steps towards trading while SAARC failed.

Couple of reasons are there behind the failure of SAARC.

First of all, ASEAN states decided to forget their internal clash but SAARC states stated that conflict should be resolved first.

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ASEAN moved to conflict avoidance mechanisms where SAARC nations were inclined to be warlike.

ASEAN took no time in agreeing two types of trade area (1997) while SAARC made an heavy weather to deal with the same thing.

SAARC had to suffer an Indo-Pakistan war at Kargil started by Pakistan in 1999, which prevented three SAARC summits from taking place.

So, nations of SAARC needs to improve its trade conduct what ASEAN has already made.

Economic Contribution 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.

Technical Committee was established in 1989

Expert Group meetings and seminars are hold

annually on modernization of curriculum

Teacher training is done in all the region by

SAARC

By 2010 SAARC managed to establish a common

university named South Asian University in Delhi

Contribution to enrich Cultural Co-operation

Technical Committee was established in 1993 about cultural communications

SAARC arranges study tours with students from all the regions

They hold a letter writing competition since 1985

Later on the TC was merged with educational sector

Hindrances in the path of SAARC

Large variety of different political

system

They lack financial resources and

advanced technologies

Large variety regional and

cultural differences

India tries to dominate the function and

activities of SAARC

Hindrances in the path of SAARC

Internal problems constituting social economic and

developmental and growth issues

Food Security Reserve failed to meet the need

of Bangladesh

Bilateral disputes and differences

Involvement of external actors

Hindrances in the path of SAARC

Suffers from an acute resource crunch

Involvement of external actors

Situation Analysis

Solution

SAARC Successes

SAARC Failures

Current situation

Why did it Fail?

What to do?

&

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Conclusion

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Thank You