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INTRODUCTION

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises Bangladesh,

Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC is a manifestation of the

determination of the peoples of South Asia to work together towards finding solutions to their

common problems in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding and to create an orderbased on mutual respect, equity and shared benefits. 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.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is

aneconomic andgeopolitical organization of eightcountriesthat are primarily located

inSouth Asia.The SAARC Secretariat is based inKathmandu,Nepal.

The idea of regional political and economical cooperation in South Asia was first raised in

1980 and the first summit was held inDhakaon 8 December 1985, when the organization was

established by the governments ofBangladesh,Bhutan,India,Maldives,Nepal,Pakistan,

andSri Lanka. Since then the organization has expanded by accepting one new full

member,Afghanistan,and several observer members.

The SAARC policies aim to promotewelfare economics,collective self-reliance among the

countries of South Asia, and to acceleratesocio-cultural development in the region. The

SAARC has developedexternal relationsby establishing permanent diplomatic relations with

theEU,theUN (as anobserver), and other multilateral entities. The official meetings of the

leaders of each nation are held annually whilst the foreign ministers meet twice annually. The

18th SAARC Summit is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu in November 2014.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an organization of South

Asian nations, founded in December 1985 and dedicated to economic, technological, social,

and cultural development emphasizing collective self-reliance.

The 11 stated areas of cooperation are agriculture; education, culture, and sports; health,

population, and child welfare; the environment and meteorology; rural development

(including the SAARC Youth Volunteers Program); tourism; transport; science and

technology; communications It is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The world today is at a turning point. The changes that we are undergoing are global in

scope, revolutionary, fundamental and structural in content. As we have entered the 21stcentury a sense of optimism prevails for attaining peace and prosperity through effective role-

play of regional as well as global organizations.

Many view Asia as having a variety of characteristics in common with Europe of the

nineteenth century: underdeveloped international institutions, mixed domestic orders, rising

nationalism, high but differential growth rates, and bitter, emotional rivalries between

insecure neighbours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asian_Association_for_Regional_Cooperation#Members_of_SAARChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmanduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhakahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Bhutanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_Maldiveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Nepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Sri_Lankahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socio-cultural_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_observershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_observershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socio-cultural_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Sri_Lankahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Nepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_Maldiveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Bhutanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhakahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmanduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asian_Association_for_Regional_Cooperation#Members_of_SAARChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_economics

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EVOLUTION

The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first mooted in November 1980. After

consultations, the Foreign Secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in

Colombo, in April 1981. This was followed, a few months later, by the meeting of the

Committee of the Whole, which identified five broad areas for regional cooperation. TheForeign Ministers, at their first meeting in New Delhi, in August 1983, formally launched the

Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) through the adoption of the Declaration on South

Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC).

At the First Summit held in Dhaka on 7-8 December 1985, theCharter establishing the South

Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was adopted.

The evolution passed through four phases that include: Conception (1977-80) The Meeting of

Foreign Secretaries (1981-83), The Meeting of Foreign Ministers (1983-85), and The

Summits (1985-2004).

The first concrete proposal for establishing a framework for regional cooperation in South

Asia was made by the late president of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman, on May 2, 1980. Prior to

this, the idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was discussed in at least three

conferences: the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi in April 1947, the Baguio

Conference in the Philippines in May 1950, and the Colombo Powers Conference in April

1954.8 Since 1977, the Bangladesh president seemed to have been working on the idea of an

ASEAN-like organization in South Asia.9 During his visit to India in December 1977, Ziaur

Rahman discussed the issue of regional cooperation with the new Indian Prime Minister,

Morarji Desai. In the inaugural speech to the Colombo Plan Consultative Committee which

met in Kathmandu in December 1977, King Birendra of Nepal gave a call for close regionalcooperation among South Asian countries in sharing river waters. President Ziaur Rahman

welcomed the Kings call during the formers visit to Bangladesh in January 1978. President

Ziaur Rahman had also informally discussed the idea of regional cooperation with the leaders

of South Asian countries during the Commonwealth Summit in Lusaka (1979) and the Non-

Aligned Summit in Havana (1979). However, the Bangladesh president seems to have given

a concrete shape to the proposal after his visit to Sri Lanka and discussion with the Sri

Lankan president, J.R. Jayawardene, in November 1979. Several factors seem to have

influenced President Ziaur Rahmans thinking about establishing a regional organization in

South Asia during 1975-1979:

(1) change in the political leadership in South Asian countries and demonstration ofaccommodative diplomacy by the new leaders; (2) Ziaur Rahmans need for Indian support to

legitimize his coup dtat regime; (3) an acute balance of payment crisis of almost all South

Asian countries which was further aggravated by the second oil crisis in 1979; (4) failure of

the North-South dialogues, and increasing protectionism by the developed countries;10

publication of an extremely useful background report by the Committee on Studies for

Cooperation in Development in South Asia (CSCD), identifying many feasible areas of

cooperation;11 assurance of economic assistance for multilateral cooperative projects on

sharing water resources of the Ganga and Brahmaputra by United States President Jimmy

Carter and British Prime Minister James Callaghan during their visit to India, Pakistan and

Bangladesh in January 1978; and the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan in late

December 1979 and the resulting rapid deterioration of South Asian security situation.During this critical period, President Ziaur Rahmans initiative for establishing a regional

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organization which would give the leaders of South Asian countries an opportunity to

improve their understanding of one anothers problems and to deal with conflicts before they

turned into crisis, became much more appealing.

While the Bangladesh proposal was promptly endorsed by Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives

and Bhutan, India and Pakistan were sceptical initially. Indias main concern was theproposals reference to the security matters in South Asia. Indian policy-makers also feared

that Ziaur Rahmans proposal for a regional organization might provide an opportunity for

new smaller neighbours to regionalize all bilateral issues and to join with each other to gang

up against India. Pakistan assumed that it might be an Indian strategy to organize the other

South Asian countries against Pakistan and ensure a regional market for Indian products,

thereby consolidating and further strengthening Indias economic dominance in the region.

However, after a series of quiet diplomatic consultations between South Asian foreign

ministers at the UN headquarters in New York from August to September 1980, it was agreed

that Bangladesh would prepare the draft of a working paper for discussion among the foreign

secretaries of South Asian countries. The new Bangladesh draft paper, sensitive to Indias

and Pakistans concerns, dropped all references to security matters and suggested only non -political and non-controversial areas for cooperation. Between 1980 and 1983, four meetings

at the foreign secretary level (April 21-23, 1981, Colombo; November 2-4, 1981,Kathmandu; August 7-8, 1982, Islamabad; March 28-30, 1983, Dhaka) took place to establish

the principles of organization and identify areas for cooperation. After three years of

preparatory discussions at the official level, the focus of discussion shifted to the political

level in 1983. The first South Asian foreign ministers conference was held in New Delhi

from August 1-3, 1983, where the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) on mutually agreed

areas of cooperation (i.e., agriculture, rural development, telecommunications, meteorology,

health and population control, transport, sports, arts and culture, postal services and scientific

and technical cooperation) was launched. The foreign ministers at this conference also

adopted a Declaration on Regional Cooperation, formally beginning an organization known

as South Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC). Following the New Delhi meeting, three more

meetings of the foreign ministers were held at Male (July 10-11, 1984), Thimpu (May 13-14,

1985), and Dhaka (December 5, 1985) to finalize details and determine a date and place for

the first meeting of South Asian heads of state. At the Dhaka foreign ministers meeting, a

decision was taken to change the name of the organization from South Asian Regional

Cooperation (SARC) to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The

change in the acronym was based on the thinking that while SARC refers to the process of

South Asian Regional Cooperation, SAARC marks the establishment of an association

(organization) to promote and develop such cooperation. Finally, the first summit meeting of

the heads of state or government of South Asian countries was held at Dhaka from December7-8, 1985.

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OBJECTIVES

Promoting the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life.

Accelerating 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.

Promoting and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia.Contributing to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problems.

Promoting active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural,

technical and scientific fields.

Strengthening cooperation with other developing countries;

Strengthening cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common

interest

The objectives, principles and general provisions, as mentioned in the SAARC Charter, are as

follows :

To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality oflife;

To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in theregion and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realise

their full potentials;

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

To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another'sproblems;

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 interests; and

To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and

purposes.

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PRINCIPLES

Cooperation within the framework of the Association is based on respect for the

principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-

interference in the internal affairs of other states and mutual benefit.

Such cooperation is to complement and not to substitute bilateral or multilateral

cooperation.

Such cooperation should be consistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations of

the member states.

Decisions at all levels in SAARC are taken on the basis of unanimity.

Bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from its deliberations.

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.

To promote and strengthen collective self reliance

To improve the quality of life in the country for citizens

accelerate economic growth,cultural progress and social development

strengthen co-operation with other developing countries

co-ordinate with international and regional organizations promote active collaboration and assistance in

cultural,social,economic,scientific,defense and technological Fields

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MEMBERS OF SAARC

Its seven founding members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan

and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined later on 3rd April, 2007

1)

Bangladesh

Bangladesh emerged as an independent country on 16 December 1971. Its official name is

the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Dhaka is the capital of the Republic and Bangla is the

state language. The Independence and National Day of Bangladesh is 26 March

Bangladesh has primarily an agrarian economy. Agriculture is the single largest sector in the

economy producing about 30% of the countrys GDP and employing around 60% of the total

labour force. The country has a considerable number of large, medium and small-sized

industries in both the public and private sectors based on both indigenous and imported raw

materials. Among them are jute, cotton, textiles, fertilizer, engineering, shipbuilding, steel,oil-refinery, paper, newsprint, sugar, chemicals, cement and leather.

2) Bhutan

The Bhutanese call their country Druk-yul, the land of the Drukpas (the people) and of the

Druk (Thunder Dragon as in the national flag of Bhutan). The ancient history of the kingdom

remains shrouded in mystery. Since the 8th century A.D., however, it is clear that Buddhism

has played a large part in shaping the course of Bhutans history. Although Bhutan was

unified under a central authority in the 17th century, evidence strongly suggests that it had

existed as an independent entity from very early times.

With over 80% of the people dependent on subsistence farming, the Bhutanese economy is

predominantly rural. The share of the agriculture sector in the gross domestic product has

dropped to less than 50% with the increase in the contribution of hydroelectric power

generation and sale which now accounts for over 30 percent. The country has the potential to

generate 30,000 MW of power from its rivers. Besides electricity, Bhutan exports calcium

carbide, wood products and cement.

3) India

The roots of Indian civilization stretch back in time to pre-recorded history. The earliest

human activity in the Indian subcontinent can be traced back to the Early, Middle and Late

Stone Ages. India gained independence from the British on 15 August 1947. The freedom

struggle was led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as The Mahatma, who is

revered as the Father of the Nation.

India has one of the worlds most diverse populations, with most of the major races

represented. Today, India has over one billion people. There are fifteen languages recognized

by the Indian Constitution and these are spoken in 1600 dialects. Hindi, the fourth most

widely spoken language in the world, is the language of 30% of the population and the

official language of India.

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India ranks among the top ten industrial nations of the world and has an increasingly

powerful middle class. The Indian economy is potentially very strong with its large industrial

output, technological knowledge and extensive reservoir of skilled manpower. Major exports

include cotton goods, iron, raw jute and jute products, coffee, electrical goods, leather,

handicrafts, diamonds, chemicals and software. The major imports are machinery, petroleum,

chemicals, cereals, copper, and zinc.

The majority of Indians (64%) earn their livelihood from the land with agriculture accounting

for about 35 % of national income.

4) Maldives

The civilizations of Maldives as far as can be estimated, dates back more than 2000 years.

Archeological findings from many ancient sites in Maldives show ruins of old Buddhist

structures, some dating back to 3rd and 4th centuries. The evidence shows that at the time of

conversion to Islam in 1153 A.D. the population of Maldives was mainly Buddhist.

The Maldives political system is a unique blend of its history, traditions, Islamic faith and

modern democratic principles. It has evolved over a period of many years, the first written

constitution having been proclaimed in 1932, though unwritten constitutional principles had

been in existence long before then. A republican form of government in 1968 replaced the

constitutional monarchy, with an Executive President as the Head of State. A new

Constitution, that is more comprehensive and in tune with the countrys democratic principles

was adopted by the country on 1 January 1998.

5) Nepal

The documented history of Nepal begins with the Changu Narayan temple inscription of

King Manadeva I (464 A.D.) followed by Malla rulers among other important ones. Before

Nepals emergence as a unified nation in the latter half of the eighteenth century, the

designation of Nepal was applied only to the Kathmandu Valley. Nepal had been segmented

into more than 52 small principalities. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Great King of Gorkha was

the maker of modern Nepal who united the country by 1769 by conquering Kathmandu

Valley and making it the Capital.

The mainstay of the Nepalese economy is agriculture, which accounts for 41% of the GDPwith more than 80% of the people dependent on it. The main crops grown are paddy, maize

and wheat. Manufacturing, trade and tourism follow farming as the main economic activities

of the country. Hand knitted woolen carpets and readymade garments are flourishing

industries in the country whose total share in the exports figures is almost 32 percent.

Petroleum products, chemicals and drugs, food and live animals, vehicles, machinery and

equipment are the major imports of Nepal.

6) Pakistan

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan appeared on the world map on 14 August 1947 under the

leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Quaid-e-Azam (the Great Leader), who is revered as

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the Father of the Nation. Pakistan is divided into four provinces: Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab

and the North-West Frontier Province. Islamabad is the capital of the country.

Agriculture and related activities engage 46.1 percent of the workforce and provide 25

percent of GDP. The main exports include cotton textiles, cotton yarn and thread, clothing,

raw cotton, rice, carpets and rugs, leather, fish and petroleum products. The main importsinclude machinery, electrical equipment, petroleum products, transportation equipment, metal

and metal products, fertilizer and foodstuffs.

7) Sri Lanka

Lanka means "resplendent" (from the Pali "alankara"). Stone-age implements found on the

island date back at least ten millennia, while evidence is available that the domestication of

plants may have taken place around 15,000 B.C. Given Sri Lankas central location on the

trade routes of the ancient world and the attraction then of her "products", pearls, timber,

gems and ivory, and later spices, the island had become a center of East-West commerce well

before the Christian era. The direct influence of European maritime powers was felt

beginning from the 16th century with the arrival of the Portugues, Dutch and later British. Sri

Lanka gained independence from the British on 4 February 1948

The population of Sri Lanka (1998 estimate) is 18.77 million. The country is a multi-ethnic

nation. The Sinhalese, of Indo-Aryan origin, comprise 74 percent of the population; the Sri

Lankan Tamils, of Dravidian origin, who migrated to the island thereafter: 12.6 percent; the

Indian Tamils, descendants of migrant workers from South India recruited in the last century

by the British: 5.5 percent; the Moors, descendants from Arab traders who arrived in the

island from about the 12th century AD: 7.1 percent; and others, who include Burghers,

descendants of the Dutch and Portuguese: 0.8 percent. Sinhalese and Tamil are officiallanguages while English is the national language. Four major religions are freely practiced in

Sri Lanka. Buddhists account for 69.3 percent of the population, Hindus for 15.5 percent,

Christians for 7.6 percent and Muslims for 7.5 percent.

8) Afghanistan

Afghanistan officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in

Central Asia and South Asia. It has a population of around 31 million people, making it the

42nd most populous country in the world. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east;

Iran in the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in the north; and China in the far

northeast. Its territory covers 652,000 km2 (252,000 sq mi), making it the 41st largest countryin the world.

Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic Era, and the country's

strategic location along the Silk Road connected it to the cultures of the Middle East, Central

Asia, and South Asia.Through the ages the land has been home to various peoples and

witnessed many military campaigns, notably by Alexander the Great, Arab Muslims, Genghis

Khan, and in the modern-era by Western powers.

SAARC STRUCTURE

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Summit

FIRST SAARC SUMMIT

Dhaka, December 8, 1985.

Establishing the regional association, and established study groups on the problems ofterrorism and drug trafficking

The summit also agreed to establish a SAARC secretariat and adopted an officialSAARC emblem

SECONDSAARC SUMMIT

Bangalore, November 17, 1986.

The Heads of State or Government welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of

Understanding on the establishment of the SAARC Secretariat by the Council ofMinisters\

Appoint Ambassador Abul Ahsan of Bangladesh as the first Secretary-General ofSAARC.

THIRD SAARC SUMMIT

Kathmandu, November 4, 1987.

The foreign ministers of the member states signed the SAARC Regional Convention

on Suppression of Terrorism and an agreement to establish a South Asian Food

Reserve.[2]

FOURTH SAARC SUMMIT

Islamabad, December 31, 1988.

"SAARC Year Against Drug Abuse",

"SAARC Year of the Girl Child",

"SAARC-2000-A Basic Needs Perspective

South Asian Festivals"

FIFTH SAARC SUMMITMale , November 23, 1990.

"SAARC Year of Shelter"

"SAARC Year of the Environment",

"SAARC Year of Disabled Persons",

SIXTH SAARC SUMMIT

Colombo 21, 1991.

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Attended by the prime ministers of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, the

presidents of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and the king of Bhutan

SEVENTH SAARC SUMMIT

Dhaka, April 11, 1993.

Attended by the presidents of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the prime ministers of

Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and the king of Bhutan.

EIGHTH SAARC SUMMIT

New Delhi, May 4, 1995.

International community had successfully created a norm against chemical andbiological weapons; it had, unfortunately, been unable to do the same with regard to

nuclear weapons.

NINTH SAARC SUMMIT

Male, May 14, 1997.

Recognized the need for the international community to pursue nuclear disarmament

as a matter of highest priority.

TENTH SAARC SUMMIT

Colombo July 31, 1998.

Noted that the great power rivalry, which the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) had

consistently opposed, no longer posed a serious threat and the danger of a globalnuclear conflagration had abated.

ELEVENTH SAARC SUMMIT

Kathmandu, January 6, 2002.

Efforts to improve the global security environment.

TWELTH SAARC SUMMIT

ISLAMABAD, 4-6 JANUARY 2004

Signed the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on theSuppression of Terrorism approved days earlier by the Council of Ministers

THIRTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT

Dhaka, on 1213 November 2005

Included endorsement of the SDGs and establishment of the SAARC Poverty

Alleviation Fund.

FOURTEENTH SAARC SUMMITNew Delhi, on 3rd-4 April 2007

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Attended the chief adviser of the government of Bangladesh.

FIFTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT

Colombo, 2-3 August 2008

The issues discussed were regional cooperation, partnership for growth for thepeoples of South Asia, connectivity, energy, the environment, water resources,

poverty alleviation,etc

SIXTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT

Thimpu, 28-29 April 2010

Plant 10 million trees over the next 5 years.

Signed a SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment to tackle the problem

of climate change.

SEVENTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT

Add City, 10-11 of November 2011

General stated that the Summit being held under the theme of Building Bridges

The Foreign Ministers of the respective Member States signed four agreements

Rapid Response to Natural Disasters, Multilateral Arrangement on Recognition of

Conformity Assessment,etc

EIGHTEENTH SAARC SUMMIT

Kathmandu, November 2014.TO BE HELD

Council Of Ministers

Comprising the Foreign Ministers of member states is responsible for the formulation of

policies; reviewing progress; deciding on new areas of cooperation; establishing additional

mechanisms as deemed necessary; and deciding on other matters of general interest to the

Association. The Council meets twice a year and may also meet in extraordinary session by

agreement of member states. It has held fifteen sessions till November 1995.

Standing Committee

Comprising the Foreign Secretaries of member states is entrusted with the overall monitoring

and coordination of programmes and the modalities of financing; determining inter-sect oral

priorities; mobilising regional and external resources; and identifying new areas of

cooperation based on appropriate studies. It may meet as often as deemed necessary but in

practice it meets twice a year and submits its reports to the Council of Ministers. It has held

twenty regular sessions and two special sessions till November 1995.

Programming Committees

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Comprising the senior officials meets prior to the Standing Committee sessions to scrutinize

Secretariat Budget, finalise the Calendar of Activities and take up any other matter assigned

to it by the Standing Committee. This Committee has held fifteen sessions till November

1995.

Technical Committees

Comprising representatives of member states formulate programmes and prepare projects in

their respective fields. They are responsible for monitoring the implementation of such

activities and report to the Standing Committee. The chairmanship of each Technical

Committee normally rotates among member countries in alphabetical order, every two years.

At present, there are twelve Technical Committees. However, with the merger of the

Technical Committees on Environment and Meteorology, beginning from 1st January 1996,

the number of Technical Committees will be eleven.

Action CommitteesAccording to the SAARC Charter, there is a provision for Action Committees comprising

member states concerned with implementation of projects involving more than two, but not

all member states. At present, there are no such Action Committees.

SAARC SECRETARIAT

Established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987, the SAARC Secretariat is responsible to

coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities, service the meetings of theAssociation and serve as the channel of communication between SAARC and other

international organizations.

Abu Ashen (Bangladesh) (16 Jan 1987 - 15 Oct 1989)

Kant Inshore Baraga (India) (17 Oct 1989 - 31 Dec 1991)

Ibrahim Husain Saki (Maldives) (1 Jan 1992 - 31 Dec 1993)

Yadab Kant Silwal (Nepal) (1 Jan 1994 - 31 Dec 1995)

Naeem U.Hasan (Pakistan) (1 Jan 1996 - 31 Dec 1998)

Nihal Rodrigo (Sri Lanka) (1 Jan 1999 - 10 Jan 2002)

Q.A.M.A. Rahim (Bangladesh) (11 Jan 2002 - 28 Feb 2005)

Chenkyab Dorji (Bhutan) (1 Mar 2005 - 29 Feb 2008)

Sheel Kant Sharma (India) (1 Mar 2008 - 28 Feb 2011)

Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed (Maldives) (1 Mar 2011 - 22 Jan 2012)

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Ahmed Saleem (Maldives) (12 Mar 2012 - 28 Feb 2014)

Arjun Bahadur Thapa (CURRENT)

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS IN SAARC

Member states make provision in their respective national budgets, for financing activities

and programmes under the SAARC framework including contributions to the Secretariat

budget and that of the regional institutions. The financial provision thus made is announced

annually, at the meeting of the Standing Committee.

The annual budget of the Secretariat, both for capital as well as recurrent expenditure, is

shared by member states on the basis of an agreed formula. The initial cost of the main

building of the Secretariat, together with all facilities and equipment, as well as that of the

annex building completed in 1993 has been met by the host government.

A minimum of forty percent of the institutional cost of regional institutions is borne by the

respective host government and the balance is shared by all member states, according to an

agreed formula. Capital expenditure of regional institutions which includes physical

infrastructure, furnishing, machines, equipment etc. are normally borne by the respective host

government. Programme expenditure of regional institutions is also shared by member states,

according to the agreed formula.

In the case of activities under the approved Calendar, the local expenses including hospitality,

within agreed limits, are borne by the host Government, while the cost of air travel is met bythe sending Government.

INTEGRATED PROGRAMME OF ACTION (IPA)

The IPA is a key component of the SAARC process and includes twelve agreed areas of

cooperation, each being covered by a designated Technical Committee.

In response to the emphasis given by successive Summits on the need to further consolidate

and streamline IPA and to make it more result oriented, a comprehensive set of guidelines

and procedures was adopted in 1992 for the rationalization of SAARC activities. As a result

of this, there is now a greater focus on activities that would bring tangible benefits to thepeople of South Asia.

The Secretary-General reports on the progress in the implementation of IPA to the Standing

Committee, both at its inter-Summit and pre-Summit Sessions.

The Standing Committee has also taken the initiative to review the institutional mechanisms

and activities of the Association, including, the evaluation of the functioning of the Technical

Committees, amalgamation/alteration of their mandate and also a review of the role of the

Secretariat.

1.

Agriculture (Tc01)

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Agriculture was among the original five areas identified for fostering regional cooperation.

The first meeting of TC01 was held in 1983. Subsequently, Forestry was also included in the

work of the Technical Committee. TC01 was instrumental in the setting up of SAARC

Agricultural Information Centre (SAIC) at Dhaka in 1988 - the first SAARC regional

institution.

Member states have been exchanging Germplasm, Breeding Materials on Livestock and

Fishery in accordance with the quarantine regulations in force in their respective countries.

Prototypes of Farmtools and Equipment have been exchanged for trial and adaptation.

Activities for Improved Livestock through Exchange of Animals, Frozen Semen and Vaccine

have also been undertaken. The responsibility of compiling lists of institutions and disciplines

capable of offering training in member countries has been entrusted to SAIC. Rice and

Wheat-breeding Programmes for enhancing productivity have been conducted while

Multilocation trials for various crops are being undertaken.

Regular meetings of Counterpart Scientists is a very important feature of the Committee's

programmes. The list of Counterpart Scientists in the twelve agreed areas of crops anddisciplines have been finalised for networking. These are : Rice (Millet); Wheat; Oilseeds;

Horticulture (Potato) Vegetables and Fruits; Fisheries; Forestry; Transfer of Technology;

Livestock (Animal Health and Production); Farm Machinery and Implements; Post Harvest

Technology; Agriculture Economics & Policies and Soils. Progress has been made towards

establishing a network on Amelioration of Problem Soils.

The programme for the 1990s focuses on Genetic Engineering and Bio-Technology (for crop

and livestock improvement, agricultural and horticultural development, embryo transfer

technology for livestock and conservation of endangered germplasm); Homestead Vegetable

Production; Food Availability and Nutritional Balance; Data Base on Technology and

Training facilities in agricultural science within the SAARC countries; and meeting of the

Expert Group on Crop Diseases. Two important project proposals namely

i) Promotion of the "Bio-Villages, and

(ii) Reaching the Million - Training of Farmers and Farm Women by 2000 A.D. have

recently been completed and future course of action on these proposals is underway.

2. Communications (Tc02)

C on Telecommunications and TC on Postal Services both established in 1983 which had

hitherto functioned separately were amalgamated into a single TC on Communications witheffect from 1993.

With a view to bringing about an over-all improvement in the postal services in the region,

the work programme in this sector included training, seminars, workshops study tours etc.

Training programmes were held for First and Middle Level Officers and for Trainers as well

as in Philately, International Postal Services, International Mail Accounting and Routing,

Postal Management Services and Post Office Savings Banks. Seminars / Workshops were

organized on Postal Operation and future challenges, Mechanization of Postal Operations,

Agency functions, Financial Services, Caring for Customer, Expedited Mail Service (EMS),

Circulation System of EMS and Postal Marketing.

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Study tours on Agency Services, Safety and Security of Postal Articles, Postal Services in

Hilly or Rural Areas and New Mail and Financial Service in Pakistan were undertaken to

gain first-hand knowledge of problems and plans for improvement of postal services.

Since 1985, Letter Writing Competitions have been held annually. Studies had been

undertaken on Productivity Measurement Techniques applied in postal operations, PostalDelays in SAARC region, Integration of Postal Services with rural development and

Concessional Mail Tariff and Mail Transmission. Other activities undertaken include

issuance of commemorative stamps, postage stamp displays and philatelic exhibitions.

Within the overall objective of providing telecommunication services to majority of the rural

population by the year 2000, TC02 has focused on efforts to promote technological and

human resource development and management. There has been substantial progress in

implementing the recommendations for the establishment of ISD, automatic telex, and

bureaufax facilities, improvement of inter-country links, introduction of common collection

charges and media independent tariff, adoption of SDR as common accounting unit and off-

peak period tariff.

Short-term activities in Telecommunications include Seminars/Workshops on Data

Transmission, Digital Switching, Network Management, Operations, Software maintenance,

Trends in External Plants practice, Adoption of new technologies in rural telecommunication

system, Transition from analogue to digital transmission, improvement of quality services in

telecommunications, IDR satellite technology and improvement of rural telecommunications.

Training courses have also been held on new technologies for maintenance of switching

systems, software development, financial management, packet switch data network and

NEAX 61.

3. Education, Culture And Sports (Tc03)

TC on Education (established in 1989) and TC on Sports, Arts and Culture (established in

1983) were amalgamated into a single TC on Education and Culture with effect from 1993.

TC03 was renamed in 1995 as TC on Education, Culture and Sports.

The priority themes identified for cooperation in the field of Education are Women and

Education; Universal Primary Education; Literacy, Post Literacy and Continuing Education;Educational Research; Science and Technical Education, Education for the Underserved

Areas and Distance Education. The nominations of Nodal Agencies for each of the priority

themes have been completed and appropriate Action Plans are being prepared.

Short-term activities in the field of Education include, Expert Group Meetings;

Workshops/Seminars on the priority themes; Modernisation of Curriculum; Environmental

Education including Population Education; Planning and Management of Education, Teacher

Training, Higher Education and Book Production and Marketing.

TC03 is also engaged in the improvement and expansion of the SAARC Chairs, Fellowships

and Scholarships Scheme. Nodal Points for networking arrangement for sharing information

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on Mass Literacy Programmes have been identified. The modalities and operational

framework for this purpose are being prepared.

Short term activities in the field of Culture include six South Asian Archaeological

Congresses; one History Conference; Workshops / Training / Seminars on Conservation of

Wall Paintings, Documentation of Musical and Oral Traditions, Archives and PhotographicExhibitions of Monuments, National Heritage and an Expert Group Meeting on Preservation

of Monuments and Archival Materials. In the field of Arts and Exhibition of Handicrafts;

Workshops on Sea Based Crafts and Artisans at Work; and SAARC Painters Camp have been

held.

As part of the regional cooperation activities in Sports, Coaching Camps / Clinics have been

conducted in Table Tennis, Squash, Hockey, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics and

Volleyball. Training of Experts in Sparktaid has been conducted. Basketball and Football

Tournaments and SAARC Marathons have been organised.

4.

Environment (Tc04)

The Third SAARC Summit (Kathmandu, 1987) decided to commission a study on "Causes

and Consequences of Natural Disasters and the Protection and Preservation of the

Environment". National Studies were undertaken and subsequently consolidated into a

Regional Study, which was approved by the Sixth SAARC Summit (Colombo, 1991).

The recommendations of the above Regional Study were considered by the Committee on

Environment (February 1992), which identified, for immediate action, measures for

strengthening the environment management infrastructure; programmes on environmentally

sound land and water use planning; research and action programme on mountaindevelopment in the Himalayan Region; coastal zone management programme; a SAARC

forestry and watershed programme; programme on energy and environment; pollution control

and hazardous waste management programme; a SAARC cooperative programme for

biodiversity management; peoples participation in resource management; information

exchange on low cost and environmentally sound habitat technologies; establishment of a

SAARC relief and assistance mechanism for disaster and regional cooperation on the

development of modern disaster warning systems.

A special session of the Committee on Environment (November 1992) met to evolve specific

programme activities and modalities to implement the above measures.

The Fourth SAARC Summit (Islamabad, 1988) decided that a joint study be undertaken on

"Greenhouse Effect and its Impact on the Region". National Studies prepared by member

states were consolidated into a regional study, which was approved by the Seventh SAARC

Summit (Dhaka, 1993).

The Committee on Environment was designated as the Technical Committee on Environment

and included within its purview, "Greenhouse Effect and its Impact on the Region". It began

functioning from January 1, 1993.

TC04 has identified measures for immediate action from among the recommendations and

decided on a number of modalities for their implementation. These include, improvingclimate monitoring capability through networking arrangement and through SAARC

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Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC); developing climate change and sea-level rise

scenario through country specific studies and sharing of information data in this respect;

making available to member states expertise on climate research and monitoring Greenhouse

Gases emission; identification of training and research institutions and ongoing programmes;

exchange of information and data; exchange of experience on strategies for developing,

mitigating and adaptive responses to climate change.

TC04 also covers topics such as Approaches to Environmental Legislations, Regulations and

Standards in SAARC countries; Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands; Training Course on

Wetlands Assessment and Management; Workshop on Alternate/Renewable Energy and

Workshop of SAARC National Experts on Climate Change. The urgent need to establish a

networking approach through identified nodal points/institutions has also been stressed.

A SAARC Environment Ministers Conference was held in New Delhi in April 1992 to

evolve a joint position on the issues related to the UN Conference on Environment and

Development (UNCED). SAARC also presented a common position paper to the Fourth

World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction (Yokohama, May 1994).

TCs on Environment and Meteorology will be merged and designated as TC on Environment

and Meteorology with effect from 1 January 1996.

5. Health And Population Activities (Tc05)

Health and Population Activities was one of the original five areas of cooperation identified

by member states. The First Meeting of TC05 was held in 1984.

The primary focus of TC05 has been on children, population welfare and policy, maternaland child health, primary health care, disabled and handicapped persons, control and

eradication of major diseases in the region such as malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, diarrhea

diseases, rabies, AIDS, and iodine deficiency disorder.

Important activities undertaken by TC05 include the setting up of the SAARC Tuberculosis

Centre (STC), in Kathmandu in 1992, devising a standard Format for preparing the Annual

Review of the Situation of Children in the SAARC region; establishment of networking

arrangements for training, research and eradication of malaria and regional approach for

combating major diseases in the region. A Directory of training programmes in six priority

areas, i.e. malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, diarrhoeal diseases, human rabies and maternal and

child health have been prepared and circulated. In addition, several status papers on importantsubjects relating to health have been circulated among member states.

The Second SAARC Summit (Bangalore, 1986) decided that the survival, protection and

development of Children should be given highest priority and directed that annual reviews be

undertaken on the situation of children in SAARC countries. Such annual reviews for the

years 1993 and 1994 have been completed by TC05 based on annual country reports

submitted by member states. These annual reviews have indicated, inter-alia, reduction of

infant mortality and significant progress in the immunisation programme for children in the

region.

TC05 will be renamed as TC on Health, Population Activities and Child Welfare with effectfrom 1 January 1996.

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6. Meteorology (Tc06)

Meteorology was also one of the five areas of cooperation initially identified by member

states. The first meeting of TC06 was held in 1984. Since its inception, the Committee hasbeen involved in organizing seminars/workshops in areas such as Joint Inter-Comparison of

Barometers, Meteorological Instruments, Agricultural Meteorology, Numerical Weather

Prediction, Crop-Weather relationship and Crop-Yield Forecast, Long Range Weather

Forecasting, Radar Meteorology etc. Training programmes have been conducted on

Meteorological Tele-communications, Management and Establishment of National Data

Centers, Monsoon Forecasting etc. State-of-the-art Reports on Western Disturbances,

Tropical Cyclones including Prediction of Recurvature, Thunder Storms, Long Range

Forecasting of Monsoon Rain, Short Range Prediction of Monsoon and Norwesters,

Tornadoes and Water Sprouts, have been completed. Expert panels have been convened on

specialized fields such as Agro-meteorology; Climatology and Data Exchange; and

Instrumentation.

An Annual Regional Award is given to a young scientist or a group of scientists for a

research paper on meteorological topics to encourage research in the field of Meteorology.

Another Award has been introduced since 1995 for senior scientists to encourage research

work in the field of Meteorology.

The programmes for 1990s identified by the Committee include, the establishment of

National Data Centers, conducting studies on Meteorological aspects of Environment

Pollution, establishment of Port Meteorological Offices for obtaining Data from Ocean areas.

TC06 has also identified long-term measures, such as creation of a Regional Data Bank,Organization of Research Flight Facilities for probing cyclones, networking for Drifting and

Anchored Buoys in Oceanic Regions, Environmental Pollution Monitoring stations,

Preparation of Atlases of Meteorological Parameters and Familiarization with Computer

Technology as needed for meteorological research, including visits to computer centers and

cost of consumable.

TCs on Meteorology and Environment will be merged and designated as TC on Environment

and Meteorology with effect from 1 January 1996.

7. Prevention Of Drug Trafficking And Drug Abuse (Tc07)

Since its establishment in 1987, TC07 has implemented a number of programmes in law

enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation as essential elements of a coordinated

regional strategy in combating drug trafficking and drug abuse. It contributed significantly

towards the finalisation of the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic

Substances in November 1990, which came into force in September 1993 upon its ratification

by all member states.

Cooperation among Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and Officers is being developed

through short-term activities such as Seminars and Training Courses. Nodal Agencies in

member states have been nominated to exchange information and intelligence on drug

offences. The SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) has been established in

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Colombo to collate, analyse and disseminate information on drug offences. Efforts are afoot

for further strengthening SDOMD.

In the field of demand reduction, short-term activities such as workshops/ seminars held so

far have focused on the role of media in drug abuse prevention, community mobilization

against drug abuse, preventive education, school curriculum development, treatment andrelapse prevention and exchange of information on indigenous and innovative methods of

treatment. A networking arrangement among Nodal Institutions in drug abuse prevention is

being established.

Meetings of selected NGOs involved in Drug Abuse Prevention have been held. A Directory

of such Organisations has been compiled in order to promote greater interaction among them.

The Colombo Plan Bureau's Project Proposal and the establishment of working relations

between SAARC and the Colombo Plan Bureau were approved by the Twentieth Session of

the Standing Committee. This will promote and encourage cooperation among NGOs in

SAARC countries involved in anti-narcotics activities.

Efforts have been directed at promoting SAARC member states' accession to the relevant UN

Conventions, conclusion of Regional and Drug Convention and harmonisation and

consolidation of national drug laws. A Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation

between SAARC and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP)

has been signed.

8. Rural Development (Tc08)

Rural Development is one of the five original areas identified for cooperation under the IPA.

The first meeting of the Committee was held in 1984. Specific activities taken up by theTechnical Committee include, exchange of information and literature among member states

on issues relating to rural development, preparation of research studies on selected topics,

compilation of lists of experts, training institutes, and institutions involved in transfer of

appropriate technology in member states, with a view to exchanging expertise and sharing

training facilities within the region.

Several workshops/seminars and training courses covering practically all aspects of rural

development including regional planning, poverty focused development, rural energy, design

of agricultural projects, local level planning, inter-country comparisons, appropriate

technology, disaster management, rural child development, rural sociology, peoples

participation, rural water supply, employment generation, social forestry, ruralcommunication and development of agricultural markets have been conducted in member

states under the TC08.

Priority areas identified by TC08 for the 1990s for the selection of well identified, target-

oriented and time bound programmes are Poverty Alleviation, Employment, Human

Resource Development and Organization of Rural Poor, Women in Development,

Sustainable Rural Development, Environment and Technology transfer.

The decision to establish a Shelter Information Network "SHELTERNET" has been followed

up by an Expert Group meeting which has defined its objectives and prepared detailed

financial cost-estimates as well as operational modalities for final approval.

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The Committee has also been entrusted with the work relating to the SAARC Youth

Volunteers Programme (SYVOP) since November 1989.

9. Science And Technology (Tc09)

Since its establishment in 1983, TC09 has undertaken a wide variety of programmes whichinclude short-term activities such as Seminars/Workshops, Training Programmes, Joint

Research Projects, preparation of State-of-the-art Reports and compilation of Directories.

Seminars/Workshops/ Meetings of Experts held so far were on: Post Harvest and Food

Technology; Renewable Energy Resources; Photovoltaic; Pesticides; Instrumentation,

Maintenance and Calibration, Cultivation and Processing of Medicine and Aromatic Plants;

Delivery System of Improved Stoves for Rural Users; Low Cost Housing Technology

Diffusion in Rural Areas; Treatment of Drinking Water in Rural and Urban areas; Science

Policy; Low Cost Scientific Educational Equipment; Bio-Fertilizer Technology; Bio-Mass

Gasification; Recycling of Waste Water and Development of Technologies for Pollution

Control; Technology Information and its Linkages; Biological Control of Plant Pests;

Immunodiagnostics; Ore Benefaction; Energy Modeling Techniques; Solar Thermal

Technology; Technological Aspects of Low Cost Housing; Examination of Operational

System of Rural Electrification Cooperative; and Short Course on Technology Assessment

and Technology Diffusion.

Training Programmes have also been held for Scientists and Technologists on Tannery Waste

Management, Low Cost Housing, Development of Prawn Hatcheries, Electronics and

Molecular Biology. In addition, Joint Research Projects on Design and Manufacture of Food

Processing Equipment and Appropriate Post Harvest Food Technology for Perishable Items

have been carried out.

State-of-the-art Reports have been completed on Bio-Gas; Mineral Resources Exploration;

Producer Gas; Application of Remote Sensing Techniques; and Use of Organic Fertilizers.

The Report currently under preparation include Building Materials and Technologies;

Integrated Management of Tannery Waste; Selected Rural Technologies; Food Processing

Technologies and Handicrafts; Local Electronic Products in the SAARC Region; and Bio-

technology.

Directories are being prepared on Specialized Analytical Instrumentation Facilities and

Techniques; and Process Engineering/Pilot Plant Facilities in Agro Food Processing.

Networking Arrangements are being established in the fields of Bio-technology and Genetic

Engineering, Energy Modeling Techniques, Technology Information and Low Cost Housing

and Building Technologies.

10.Tourism (Tc10)

TC10 was established in 1991 to promote cooperation in the field of tourism in the region. At

its first meeting held in Colombo in October 1991, the Committee decided on an Action Plan

on Tourism to promote cooperation in the areas such as training programmes, exchange of

information, joint promotion, jointventure investment, intraregional tourism etc. It also

reviewed progress on the SAARC Scheme for Promotion of Organized Tourism. These topics

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have formed an integral part of the agenda of the five Meetings of this Committee which have

been held so far.

Under the purview of TC10, member countries have exchanged information on training

facilities existing in the region and a number of slots for providing training in the field of

tourism and hotel management were offered. TC10 has decided upon steps to produce jointtourism brochure, SAARC Travel Guide and joint-production of SAARC tourism

promotional film on the theme "A Unique Holiday with Diversity : From Top of the World to

the Sunny beaches". Activities such as familiarisation tours and Food Festival in member

states were also identified. Steps were also taken to coordinate the participation of SAARC

member states in international tourism fairs. Emphasis is also being placed on the importance

of early launching of the SAARC Scheme for Promotion of Organised Tourism.

11.Transport (Tc11)

In recognition of the importance of the transport sector, TC11 was set up in 1983. The work

of the Technical Committee covers three major segments of transport, i.e. land transport,

divided into roadways and railways; sea transport sub-divided into inland waterways and

shipping; and air transport.

The activities of TC11 cover exchange of data and information, preparation of status papers,

compilation of data-base and directories of consultancy centres for transport sector. Seminars

and Workshops have covered areas such as Material and Cost of Road Construction,

Maintenance of Roads, Rural Roads, Road transportation and safety; Containerisation for

Railways, Urban transportation, Inland Water Transport, Maritime Transport etc.

Training Courses have included Corporate Planning for Railway sector, Highway and BridgeEngineering. A Compendia of Information on Roads in the SAARC region has been

completed and similarly data on Railway Transport has been compiled. Two important

Directories - one on Centres of Excellence and the other on Consultants and Experts in the

field of transport are being prepared. An important Study on "In-depth examination of

Transport Infrastructure and Transit Facilities so as to come up with viable proposals for

Improvement" has recently been completed.

The activities held under the Transport Sector, so far, have helped in fostering better

cooperation among member countries and resulted in the dissemination and exchange of data,

expertise, information and experiences.

The work programme for the 1990s covers a wide range of issues related to rail, sea and air

transportation. Recently, four new areas of cooperation in the Transport Sector have been

identified by the Committee: Transport Safety, Rural Transport, Environmental Aspects, and

Energy Conservation. Two new proposals : "Establishing Joint Venture Operations to provide

Container Liner Shipping Services for Long Haul Trade Routes" and

"Consultancy/Contracting Joint Ventures in the Transport Sector in the SAARC Region" are

also being considered by the Technical Committee.

Transport is a vital area in providing access to products to markets and opening up new areas

of productivity. Especially now with the signing of Agreement on SAARC Preferential

Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) this sector has even a more crucial role to play in intra-SAARC trade.

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12.Women In Development (Tc12)

Women in Development was included as an area of cooperation under the IPA in 1986.

Specific issues taken up by TC12 include, preparation of a Regional Plan of Action for

Women, effective dissemination of technical information relating to women in development

generated by member states, preparation of Guide Books on Women in Development bymember states etc. SAARC Women's Journals on specific themes relating to women in

development have been published to coincide with important events like SAARC Summits.

On the recommendation of the Committee, 1990 was designated as the "SAARC Year of the

Girl-Child" and subsequently 1991-2000 A.D. declared as the "SAARC Decade of the Girl-

Child". A SAARC Plan of Action has been drawn up to observe the decade in order to

highlight the gender disparities in the region and to promote the welfare of the Girl-Child.

Member states are now in the process of implementing the Plan of Action. In this connection

SAARC would be conducting a comprehensive mid-decade review for presentation to the

Ninth SAARC Summit.

SAARC has recognised the serious threat faced by certain groups of Girl Children in

Especially Difficult Circumstances (GCEDC) and decided that an urgent appraisal of the

situation of these children be undertaken and presented to the Ninth SAARC Summit.

Several short-term activities like seminars, workshops and training courses have been held in

the areas of women in law, women and environment, women's education and training,

women's employment, women in agriculture and extension etc. Several activities related to

different aspects of the Girl-Child have also been held under the Committee. Exhibitions on

Handicrafts and Design by Women have also been organised by member states.

A Women's Cell has been established in the SAARC Secretariat to act as a Data Bank and a

store house of information on Women in Development in the region. It will also act as a

forum for coordination among member states and other TCs.

A SAARC collective position on issues before the Fourth World Conference on Women in

Beijing in September 1995 had been formulated and a "SAARC Ministerial Meeting on

Women: Towards the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing" has been held and the

Dhaka Resolution adopted at the meeting provided additional input from SAARC Countries

to the Beijing Conference.

Girl representatives present the Girl-Child's Appeal to the Heads of State or Governmentduring the Fifth SAARC Summit (Male', November 1990)

BIOTECHNOLOGY COOPERATIONS

The need to institutionalize and promote cooperation in the area of Biotechnology has beenrecognized by the Heads of State or Government at various SAARC Summits since 1990.

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From 1990-2003, cooperation the area of Biotechnology was pursued by the Technical

Committee on Science and Technology. A Working Group on Biotechnology was established

in 2004 as a part of the restructured SAARC Integrated Programme of Action to coordinate

regional cooperation in the area of Biotechnology.

Since 2004, the Working Group on Biotechnology has met three times. The First and SecondMeeting of the Working Group on Biotechnology was held in Kathmandu in April 2004 and

December 2006 under the Chairmanship of Nepal. Sri Lanka assumed the Chair of the

Working Group on Biotechnology on 1 January 2009 for a period of two years. The Third

Meeting of the Working Group on Biotechnology was held in Colombo in June 2009.

The Third Meeting of the Working Group on Biotechnology (Colombo, 4-5 June 2009),

among others, considered and finalized a Concept Paper on a Programme of Cooperation in

the field of Biotechnology between SAARC Member States.

The Programme for Cooperation in the field of Biotechnology provides for cooperation the

following areas:

(i) Medical Biotechnology

(ii) Agricultural Biotechnology

(iii) Environmental Biotechnology

(iv) Animal Biotechnology

(v) Marine Biotechnology

(vi) Bioinformatics

(vii) Plant Tissue Culture

(viii) Genetically Modified Organisms and bio-safety

(ix) Marker Assisted Selection

(x) Bio-fertilizer and Bio-gas

(xi) Vaccine Production

(xii) Genomics and Proteomics

(xiii) Nano-biotechnology

(xiv) RNA interference technology platform

(xv) Stem cell research

(xvi) Industrial biotechnology

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TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION

SAARC has taken important steps to expand cooperation among member countries in the

core economic areas. In 1991, a Regional Study on Trade, Manufactures and Services (TMS)

was completed outlining a number of recommendations for promoting regional cooperation

in the core economic areas. The Council of Ministers at its Ninth Session in Mal in July1991 endorsed the Study and decided to set up a high-level Committee on Economic

Cooperation (CEC). This Committee has so far held six meetings.

The following initiatives have also been taken towards promoting trade cooperation within

the region:

1. Cooperation In The Field Of Handicrafts And Cottage Industries

A Group of Experts on Joint Ventures in Handicrafts and Cottage Industries was established

in 1991 pursuant to the decision of the Fifth SAARC Summit (Mal, 1990). So far, the Group

has held two meetings in which it has identified an indicative list of crafts and industries for

the purpose of mutual cooperation. Out of this list, the Group has selected six sectors namely:

hand knotted carpets, beekeeping and honey production, handloom textile products (including

embroidery), leather products (including leather garments), wooden handicrafts and pottery

and ceramic products as priority areas. It has made several recommendations regarding

development of marketing and export promotion, design development, procurement and

supply of certain raw material, skill upgradation and transfer of technology, entrepreneurship

development. The implementation of these recommendations is reviewed regularly by the

Committee on Economic Cooperation (CEC). At its Sixth Meeting in New Delhi in

November 1995, CEC urged member states to take all necessary steps for the speedy

implementation of these recommendations. The Committee requested the Secretariat tocoordinate organisation of other agreed activities through consultations with member states as

appropriate.

ii. Study on Transport Infrastructure and Transit Facilities

The CEC was directed by the Council of Ministers at its Eleventh Session (Colombo, July

1992) to specify appropriate steps for further improvement of transport infrastructure and

transit facilities in the region to accelerate the growth of trade within and outside the region.

Subsequent to this, a consultancy report was prepared on the subject by the Institute for

Sustainable Development, Kathmandu. The Report was considered by the CEC at its Sixth

Meeting in New Delhi in November 1995. The CEC requested the member states to completetheir examination of the Report urgently.

PROMOTING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACT

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The Second SAARC Summit (Bangalore, 1986) laid special emphasis on promoting people-

to-people contact in the region and approved the following five initiatives in this regard:

1. SAARC AUDIO-VISUAL EXCHANGE (SAVE) PROGRAMME

The SAVE programmes comprise of regular TV and Radio Programmes which are beingtelecast/broadcast on the 1st and 15th of each month respectively in all SAARC member

countries. SAVE Radio and TV Quiz Programmes are also being held at regular intervals and

have evoked keen interest among the youth. The other programmes include joint productions

on specific Themes such as Environment, Disabled Persons and Youth. SAVE has proved to

be an effective medium for promoting South Asian consciousness amongst the peoples of the

region and for establishing people-to-people contact.

2. SAARC DOCUMENTATION CENTRE (SDC)

The Centre has been established to provide ready access to reliable and up-to-date

information on technical, scientific and development matters.

3. SAARC SCHEME FOR PROMOTION OF ORGANISED TOURISM

The Scheme was initiated with the over-all objective of people-to-people contact in the

region and more specifically as a step to facilitate development of intra-regional tourism.

Confessional air fare to the tourists travelling under the Scheme is now under the

consideration of the Technical Committee on Tourism which is presently taking necessary

action to ensure early implementation of the Scheme.

4. SAARC CHAIRS, FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SCHEME

The SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships Scheme was instituted with the aim of

providing increased cross-fertilization of ideas through greater interaction among students,

scholars and academics in the SAARC Countries. This Scheme has now been brought under

the purview of the Technical Committee on Education, Culture and Sports.

5. SAARC YOUTH VOLUNTEERS PROGRAMME (SYVOP)

1.The main objective of the SYVOP is to harness the idealism of Youth for regional

cooperation programmes by enabling them to work in other countries in the field of

agriculture and forestry extension work. SYVOP was brought under the purview of theTechnical Committee on Rural Development in 1989. Seven activities have so far been held

in the member countries under this programme.

SAARC REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS

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1. SAARC AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION CENTRE (SAIC)

SAIC, the first regional institution, was established in Dhaka in 1988. A Governing Board

formulates policy matters, approves projects, recommends budget estimates, monitors and

evaluates administrative and overall activities of SAIC. The SAIC Director is the Member-

Secretary of the Board.

SAIC serves as a central information institution having a network with relevant national

information centres in each member state with a view to rapidly exchange regionally

generated technical information and thereby strengthen agricultural research and

development activities. SAIC has brought out several publications which contain information

on various agricultural institutions in SAARC countries and current contents services on

various subjects like fisheries, forestry, livestock, potato, rice etc. SAIC also publishes a

quarterly newsletter.

Some of the completed programmes are : Directory of Agricultural Institutions in SAARC

Countries; Directory of Agricultural Scientists and Technologists of SAARC countries;Database on Fish Diseases in the SAARC Region; Database on Potato; Directory of

Agricultural Periodicals of the SAARC Countries; Bibliography of Women in Agriculture in

the SAARC Countries; Bibliography of Agroforestry in the SAARC Region.

The on-going and future programmes of SAIC include: Selective Dissemination ofInformation (SDI); Preparation and Distribution of Selective Bibliographies; Acquisition of

Books, Journals, Annual Reports etc. produced in the SAARC Countries; Directory of on-

going Research Projects in SAARC member states; SAARC Agricultural Fact Book;

Improved Farm Implements Currently used in the SAARC Countries; Procurement and

Processing of Non-conventional Agricultural Information Materials; Abstracting and

Indexing of Articles of Journals/ Newspapers and other Periodicals etc.

2. SAARC TUBERCULOSIS CENTRE (STC)

Located at Thimi, Bhaktapur (Nepal), STC became operational in mid-July 1992. The

Centre's main objective is to work towards the prevention and control of tuberculosis in the

SAARC region through a better coordination of efforts of the member states, especially their

tuberculosis control programs. Institutional structure of the Centre consists of a Governing

Board. A Director appointed to head the Centre is responsible for the implementation of the

programmes and activities of the Centre. He is also the ex-officio Member-Secretary of the

Board.

Since its inception, STC has undertaken a number of initiatives for the prevention and control

of tuberculosis in the region. It has undertaken a number of important training programs for

the medical practitioners in the relevant areas and also organised several seminars. Some of

its notable activities included seminars on surgical aspects of tuberculosis, socio-cultural

aspects of tuberculosis, tuberculosis control programme through primary health care

approach etc. The Centre has also organised a number of trainers training programs for

tuberculosis in the region. Its other useful initiatives resulted in the compilation and printing

of a SAARC list of TB hospitals, TB training institutes in the region, compilation of a similar

list on TB and chest specialists in South Asia. The Centre is also actively engaged in collation

and distribution of information on national tuberculosis control programs in SAARC

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countries, networking arrangements among member countries on tuberculosis related subjects

as well as circulation of information on research activities in the region on tuberculosis.

3. SAARC METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTRE (SMRC)

The SMRC, established in Dhaka, was inaugurated on 2 January 1995.

The Center will concentrate primarily on the research aspects of weather forecasting and

monitoring rather than the operational aspects of the medium and long-range forecasting. The

responsibilities of the Center would include undertaking research relevant to weather

prediction and compiling climatological information. In addition to monitoring special

weather phenomena, developing a networking system among the member states would also

receive priority in its work. SMRC has a Governing Board, comprising a representative from

each member state.

Some of the important activities being undertaken by SMRC are collecting from national

meteorological services of member states the available lists of up-to-date climatologicalinformation for compilation; compiling a Directory of Meteorological Professionals and

Technicians available in the National Meteorological Services of member states; publishing

an annual newsletter regarding activities and programmes of the Center; and collecting

required meteorological data from sources outside the region for its research programmes and

to disseminate it to member states.

4. SAARC DOCUMENTATION CENTER (SDC)

SDC has been established at the Indian National Scientific Documentation Center (INSDOC)

in New Delhi in May 1994. The SDC Director is responsible for the implementation of the

programmes/activities of the Center and is also the Member Secretary of the SDC Governing

Board which comprises a representative from each member state.

The SAARC Documentation System (SDS) comprises the central facility i.e. SDC and its sub

units in member states which would act as the Center's repositories, the SAARC Secretariat

and SAARC Regional Institutions. In fulfilling the need for ready access to information, SDC

will focus on documents generated in member states, those generated elsewhere in the

SAARC region and access to international data bases in the areas of biological, physical,

chemical, engineering, and life sciences as well as in developmental matters.

SAARC CONVENTIONS/AGREEMENTS

1. AGREEMENT ON ESTABLISHING THE SAARC FOOD SECURITY RESERVE

(SFSR)

During the Third SAARC Summit (Kathmandu, 1987), an Agreement on establishing the

SAARC Food Security Reserve was signed. The Agreement, which came into force on 12

August 1988, provided for a reserve of foodgrains for meeting emergencies in member

countries. The size of the reserve at present stands at 241,580 tonnes.

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The SAARC Food Security Reserve Board comprises representatives from each member

country and meets once a year. The main functions of the Board are to undertake a periodic

review and assessment of the food situation and prospects in the region including factors such

as production, consumption, trade, prices, quality and stocks of foodgrains.

2. SAARC REGIONAL CONVENTION ON SUPPRESSION OF TERRORISM

The SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism was signed in Kathmandu in

November 1987 during the Third SAARC Summit and came into force on 22 August 1988

following ratification by all member states.

The Convention embodies and gives a regional focus to many of the well-established

principles of international law in this respect. Under its provisions, member states are

committee to extradite or prosecute alleged terrorists thus preventing them from enjoying safe

heavens.

Regional Cooperation is also envisaged in preventive action to combat terrorism. Exchangeof information, intelligence and expertise are among the areas identified for mutual

cooperation under the Convention. Cooperation among Liaison Officers (Anti Terrorist Law

Enforcement Officers) is being developed through holding international meetings continually

at regular intervals to monitor, update, evaluate and improve counter-terrorism strategies.

The SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STOMD) has been established in

Colombo to collate, analyse and disseminate information about the terrorist incidence, tactics,

strategies and methods. Efforts are being undertaken for further strengthening STOMD.

The Eighth SAARC Summit, (New Delhi May 1995) expressed serious concern on the spread

of terrorism in and outside the region and reiterated their unequivocal condemnation to acts,

methods and practices of terrorism as criminal, It deplored all such acts for their ruinous

impact on life, property, socio-economic development and political stability as well as on

regional and international peace and cooperation. The Summit Leaders reiterated the need for

a constant dialogue and interaction among the concerned agencies of member states.

The Ministers sign the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism in

Kathmandu in November 1987.

3. SAARC CONVENTION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC

SUBSTANCES

The SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances which was signed

in Mal during the Fifth SAARC Summit in November 1990 came into force on 15

September 1993, following ratification by all member states.

The Convention seeks to reinforce and supplement at the regional level, the relevant

international conventions and promote regional cooperation among member states in both

law enforcement and demand reduction.Incorporating the generally accepted principle of

extradition or prosecution consistent with the respective national legislative regimes, the

Convention envisages the widest measures for mutual legal assistance among member states

in investigation, prosecution and judicial proceedings in respect of drug offences. The

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implementation of the Convention is monitored by the Technical Committee on Prevention of

Drug Trafficking and Drug Abus, during its annual meetings.

4. AGREEMENT ON SAARC PREFERENTIAL TRADING ARRANGEMENT

(SAPTA)

The Agreement on SAPTA was signed by the Ministers of Member States on 11 April 1993

during the Seventh SAARC Summit.

The initiative towards establishing SAPTA was taken during the Sixth SAARC Summit in

Colombo in December 1991. This Agreement is an umbrella framework of rules providing

for step-by-step liberalisation of intra-regional trade. It envisages periodic rounds of trade

negotiations for exchange of trade concessions on tariff, para-tariff and non-tariff measures.

SAPTA contains provisions giving Special and Favourable Treatment to the Least Developed

Countries (LDCs) in SAARC region. Additional measures in favour of LDCs are

incorporated in Annex-I of the Agreement. Provisions for safeguard action and balance ofpayments measures are also incorporated in the Agreement to protect the interest of Member

States during critical economic circumstances.

An Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) on Trade Liberalisation completed the first round of

trade negotiations at its Sixth Meeting held at the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu on 20-21

April 1995. It finalised the Consolidated National Schedules of Concessions which were

approved by the Fifteenth Session of the Council of Ministers held in New Delhi on 30 April

- 1 May 1995. The SAPTA Agreement has since been ratified by Member States and will

enter into force on 7th December 1995. The Committee of Participants has since been

established and will meet in the third quarter of 1996 to review the progress in the

implementation of the SAPTA Agreement.

The Agreement on Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA ) signed in Dhaka on 11 April

1993 has accelerated the process of trade and economic cooperation in the region.

SAARC FUNDS

South Asian Development Fund (SADF)

In order to establish a South Asian Development Fund, initially a Panel of Experts was

formed under the chairmanship of H.E. Lyonpo Dawa Tshering, the Foreign Minister ofBhutan. The Panel of Experts consisting of eminent persons from the SAARC Region held

three meetings and the Chairman had exploratory consultations with the potential donors.

Subsequently it was decided to establish an InterGovernmental Group (IGG) on South Asian

Development Fund (SADF) to define the size, structure, resources and operational modalities

of the proposed Fund and also to examine the relationship of the Fund with the SAARC Fund

for Regional Projects including the possibility of their merger.

A Consultant appointed by the Secretary-General submitted his Report which was considered

by the IGG at its Second Meeting held at the SAARC Secretariat in October 1994.

The Second Meeting of IGG, inter-alia, recommended that a three-window South AsianDevelopment Fund (SADF) may be established with the merger of the SAARC Fund for

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Regional Projects (SFRP), the SAARC Regional Fund (SRF) and a third window for social

development and infrastructure building. This recommendation has been since approved by

the Fifteenth Session of the Council of Ministers (New Delhi, 1995). The Council approved

the recommendation of the Standing Committee which included convening a meeting of the

Group of Experts consisting of the Members of the Council of SAARC Fund for Regional

Projects (CSFRP) and National Focal Points of Member States at the SAARC Secretariat, tofinalise the terms of reference, operational modalities and composition of the Governing

Board of the South Asian Development Fund (SADF). The Meeting of the Expert Group held

at the SAARC Secretariat (September 1995) finalised the recommendations for consideration

of the Sixteenth Session of the Council of Ministers.

SAARC-JAPAN SPECIAL FUND

SAARC-Japan Special Fund has been established, under which the Government of Japan has

agreed to finance activities/programmes relating to SAARC region. Letters were exchanged

between the Secretary-General and the Japanese Ambassador in Kathmandu on 27

September, 1993 confirming the acceptance of the Memorandum on the Guidelines for theFund.

The Fund established entirely with contribution of the Government of Japan consists of two

components. The allocation under Component-I is to be used to finance selected

programmes/activities identified and managed by the member states. Component-II would be

for the programmes/activities identified and managed by the Government of Japan.

SAARC FUND FOR REGIONAL PROJECTS (SFRP)

The SFRP was established in 1991 to make available credit on easy terms for the

identification and development of projects having a regional character. The Fund is managed

by the Council for SAARC Fund for Regional Projects (CSFRP) comprising representatives

of the Development Financing Institutions of SAARC member states. So far feasibility

studies for thirteen projects have been undertaken which cover hydropower, sericulture, dairy

products, medicinal cultivation and herbs etc.

SAARC REGIONAL FUND (SRF)

The SRF aims at expediting the implementation of approved projects/programmes under IPA

which remain unimplemented due to financial constraints. It would be administered by

member states themselves. The sources of the Fund would be grants from donor countries,international agencies and organisations, and private sector donations. The

projects/programmes that would qualify for funding are programme costs of SAARC

Regional Institutions; costs of programme component of networking arrangements;

development projects of scientific and technical in nature; projects/programmes involving

high costs; long-term training programmes and projects/programmes of any other nature to be

identified in future by member states.

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COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS

1. UNCTAD

SAARC-UNCTAD Memorandum of Understanding on the Trade Analysis and Information

System (TRAINS) was signed in February 1993. The global aim of TRAINS is to increasetransparency in international trading conditions and thus facilitate trade. This was the first

Agreement of cooperation to