Saarc

Introduction

Background

This report is a requirement of MBA program in East West University. We are doing it to complete the course Business Communication (MBA 506). We were provided a list of topics in the class and from that we chose our topic Ð''SAARC - An Overview'.

Objective

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on December 8, 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding.

In this report we shall try to go through the main goals of the association. The main goal of the association is to accelerate the process of economic and social development in member states, through joint action in the agreed areas of cooperation.

Scope

This report highlights the following areas of SAARC:

- History

- Areas of Co-operation

- Regional Convention/Agreements

- Secretariat

- Funds

- Events

- Regional Centers

- Awards/Internships

- Publications

Methodology

The data and information used in this report are collected from the internet and books, journals and periodicals related to SAARC.

Definitions

SAARC - South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation

SAFTA - SAARC Free Trade Area

SAPTA - SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement

SEG - SAARC Expert Group

SMCs - SAARC Member Countries

SEA - SAARC Economic Association

SAEU - South Asian Economic Union

SACODiL - SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning

ISACPA - Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation

ADB - Asian Development Bank

FDI - Foreign Direct Investment

ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations

R&D - Research and Development

WHO - World Health Organization

UNDP - United Nations Development Program

UNICEF - United Nations International Children Emergency Fund

Limitations

Most of the data used in the report were collected from third party sources. We did not have the opportunity to conduct any research or survey on our own.

Report Preview

The report starts by providing a brief idea about SAARC. It describes how the association was formed and its main objectives. It also gives an outline about different bodies of SAARC and their activities.

We present detailed information on different areas of co-operation of its member countries in the next section. The major areas covered are Agriculture and Rural Development; Health and Population Activities; Women, Youth and Children; Environment and Forestry; Science and Technology and Meteorology; Human Resources Development; Transport.

Then we highlight on SAARC Secretariat and its Regional Centers. The SAARC Secretariat is supported by different regional centers established in different member countries.

In the latter sections of the report we introduced brief descriptions of different SAARC Agreements, Funds, Awards/Internships and publications.

Finally the report is concluded with some recommendations.

Brief on SAARC

The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first mooted in May 1980. The foreign secretaries of the seven countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Srilanka) met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. The committee of the whole, which met in Colombo in August 1981, identified five broad areas for regional cooperation.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on 8 December 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of seven countries.

The objectives of the Association as defined in the Charter are:

- To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life

- To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential

- To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia

- To contribute to mutual trust, understand and appreciation of one another's problem

- To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields

- To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries

- To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interest

- To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes

The Association provides a platform for the people of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life through accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.

Cooperation in the SAARC is based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, noninterference in internal affairs of the Member States