The document provides an overview of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Key points: - SAARC is an intergovernmental organization of 8 South Asian nations established in 1985 to promote economic and social progress and cultural development. - Its secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal and its combined economy is the 3rd largest in terms of GDP after the US and China. - SAARC aims to accelerate economic growth, social progress, cultural development and strengthen cooperation among its member states.

1. Presented By-
Singam Nishant

3. SAARC-INTRODUCTION
• The South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC).
• Is an economic and geopolitical organization of
eight countries that are primarily located in South
Asia or the Indian subcontinent.
• The SAARC Secretariat is based in Kathmandu,
Nepal.
• The combined economy of SAARC is the third
largest in the world in the terms of GDP (PPP)
after the United States and China and fifth largest
in the terms of nominal GDP.

4. • India makes up over 70% of the area and
population among these eight nations.
• As of 2015 foreign exchange reserves of
SAARC nations stands at USD 411 billion.
• Established on 8th December 1985 by the
member states.
• Then the organisation expanded and
accepting one new full member Afghanistan
and several observer members

5. Arjun Bahadur Thapa
secretary-general SAARC

6. Regional Centers
• SAARC Agricultural Centre (SAC), Dhaka
• SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC), Dhaka
• SAARC Tuberculosis Centre (STC), Kathmandu
• SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC), New Delhi
• SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC),
Islamabad
• SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre (SCZMC), Maldives
• SAARC Information Centre (SIC), Nepal
• SAARC Energy Centre (SEC), Pakistan
• SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), India
• SAARC Forestry Centre (SFC), Bhutan
• SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Sri Lanka

7. SAARC Secretariat,
Kathmandu

8. • States with observer status
include Australia, China, the European
Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South
Korea and the United States.
Observers States

9. Objective of SAARC
• Promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and improve their
quality of life;
• Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in
the region by providing all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and
realize their full potential;
• Promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of
South Asia;
• Contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one
another’s problems;
• Promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic,
social, cultural, technical and scientific fields;
• Strengthen co-operation with other developing countries;
• Strengthen co-operation among themselves in international forms on
matters of common interest; and
• Cooperate with international and regional organisation with similar aims
and purposes.

10. The eighteenth summit of 'South Asian Association of Regional
Cooperation' (SAARC) was held in Kathmandu, the capital
of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal during 26–27
November 2014

11. SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme
• The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme was launched
in 1992. The leaders at the Fourth Summit
(Islamabad, 29-31 December 1988), while
realizing the importance of having people to
people contacts, among the peoples of SARC
countries, decided that certain categories of
dignitaries should be entitled to a Special Travel
document, which would exempt them from visas
within the region. As directed by the Summit,
the Council of Ministers regularly kept under
review the list of entitled categories.

12. South Asian Free Trade Area
• SAFTA was envisaged primarily as the first step towards the
transition to a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) leading
subsequently towards a Customs Union, Common Market and
Economic Union.
• The SAFTA Agreement was signed on 6 January 2004 during
Twelfth SAARC Summit held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The
Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2006, and the
Trade Liberalisation Programme commenced from 1 July 2006.
• In 2012 the SAARC exports increased substantially to
US$354.6 billion from US$206.7 billion in 2009. Imports too
increased from US$330 billion to US$602 billion over the
same period.

13. Kathmandu Declaration
• Important declarations :
1. Regional Cooperation
2. South Asian Economic Union (SAEU)
3. SAARC Development Fund
4. Connectivity
5. Agriculture and Food security
6. SAFTA and Trade Facilitation

14. Sharp drop in aid to SAARC nations