Asia and South Asian Association
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. Its seven founding members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined the organization in 2005. Meetings of heads of state are usually scheduled annually; meetings of foreign secretaries, twice annually. It is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.
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.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on 8December 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Established in Kathmandu on 16 January1987, the SAARC Secretariat is responsible to coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities, service the meetings of the Association and serve as the channel of communication between SAARC and other international organizations
REASONS FOR ITS FORMATION
More open stance towards foreign relations.
1979 oil crisis put pressure on South Asian economies, which were already suffering from balance of payments difficulties.
1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan put the security of South Asia at risk and provided the leaders with another reason to have closer ties in order to foster understanding of common problems and conflicts before they spun out of control.
At this critical juncture, a report by the Committee on Studies for Cooperation in Development in South Asia (CSCD) identified many feasible areas of cooperation between the countries of South Asia
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.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on 8December 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Established in Kathmandu on 16 January1987, the SAARC Secretariat is responsible to coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities, service the meetings of the Association and serve as the channel of communication between SAARC and other international organizations
REASONS FOR ITS FORMATION
More open stance towards foreign relations.
1979 oil crisis put pressure on South Asian economies, which were already suffering from balance of payments difficulties.
1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan put the security of South Asia at risk and provided the leaders with another reason to have closer ties in order to foster understanding of common problems and conflicts before they spun out of control.
At this critical juncture, a report by the Committee on Studies for Cooperation in Development in South Asia (CSCD) identified many feasible areas of cooperation between the countries of South Asia