South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation In other languages: Bengali: দক্ষিণ এশীয় আঞ্চলিক সহযোগিতা সংস্থা Dari: اتحادیه همکاری‌های منطقه‌ای جنوب آسیا Dzongkha: ༄ ལྷོ ཨེསིཨ་ རེ་གིཨོནལ་ ཅོཨོཔེརཏིཨོན་ ཀོ་མི་ཏི། Hindi: दक्षिण एशियाई क्षेत्रीय सहयोग संगठन Maldivian: ދެކުނު އޭޝިޔާގެ ސަރަޙައްދީ އެއްބާރުލުމުގެ ޖަމިއްޔާ Nepali: दक्षिण एसियाली क्षेत्रीय सहयोग सङ्गठन Pashto: د سویلي اسیا لپاره د سیمه ایزې همکارۍ ټولنه Sinhala: දකුණු ආසියාතික කලාපීය සහයෝගිතා සංවිධානය Tamil: தெற்காசிய நாடுகளின் பிராந்தியக் கூட்டமைப்பு Urdu: جنوبی ایشیائی علاقائی تعاون کی تنظیم
Logo
SAARC Region
Member states      Observer states
Headquarters	Kathmandu, Nepal
Official languages	English
Demonym(s)	South Asian
Member states	8 members:  Afghanistan  Bangladesh  Bhutan  India  Maldives    Nepal  Pakistan  Sri Lanka 9 observers:  Australia  China  European Union  Iran  Japan  Mauritius  Myanmar  South Korea  United States
Leaders
• Secretary-General	Golam Sarwar
Establishment	8 December 1985 (39 years ago) (8 December 1985)
Area
• Total	5,099,611 km2 (1,968,971 sq mi) (7th)
• Water (%)	6.8
Population
• 2015 estimate	1,713,870,000 (1st)
• Density	336.1/km2 (870.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	US$14.756 trillion (3rd)
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$4.359 trillion (3rd)
Currency	8 currencies Afghanistan Afghani (AFs) (AFN) Bangladesh Taka (৳) (BDT) Bhutan Ngultrum (Nu.) (BTN) India Rupee (₹) (INR) Maldives Rufiyaa (.ރ) (MVR) Nepal Rupee (रु) (NPR) Pakistan Rupee (₨) (PKR) Sri Lanka Rupee (රු) (LKR)
Time zone	UTC+4:30 to +6 (AFT, PST, MVT, IST, SLST, NPT, BST, BTT)
Calling code	8 codes Bangladesh  +880 India  +91 Pakistan  +92 Afghanistan  +93 Sri Lanka  +94 Maldives  +960 Bhutan  +975 Nepal  +977
Internet TLD	8 ccTLDs .af .bd .bt .in .lk .mv .np .pk

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a group of countries in South Asia. It helps these countries work together. Its members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

SAARC covers 3% of the world's land. It is home to 21% of the world's people. It also makes up about 5.21% of the global economy.

SAARC was started in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. Its main office is in Kathmandu, Nepal. The group helps countries grow their economies and work together more closely. In 2006, it created the South Asian Free Trade Area to make trade easier. SAARC also works with the United Nations and groups like the European Union.

However, sometimes there are challenges between member countries. This has caused the group's activities to be paused at times.

How SAARC Started

The idea for countries in South Asia to work together came up many years ago. Discussions happened at conferences in New Delhi (1947), the Philippines (1950), and Sri Lanka (1954).

A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various Asian regional organisations v • d • e

In the late 1970s, seven South Asian nations wanted to create a trade group. They hoped it would help people work together in friendship and trust. Leaders like President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh and King Birendra of Nepal pushed for this idea.

After some initial doubts from India and Pakistan, the countries agreed to move forward. Officials from their foreign ministries met in 1981. They found five main areas where they could cooperate. More areas were added later.

In 1983, the foreign ministers formally launched the group. They called it the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). They started with cooperation in farming, rural development, communication, weather, and health.

The union was officially set up in Dhaka. The first SAARC meeting was held there on 7–8 December 1985. Leaders from all seven founding countries signed the declaration. These included the King of Bhutan, the President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister of India, the King of Nepal, the President of Sri Lanka, and the President of Maldives.

Members and Observers

SAARC has eight full member states. It also has nine observer countries.

Member Countries

The member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

SAARC started with seven members in 1985. Afghanistan joined later in April 2007. There was some discussion about Afghanistan joining. This was because Afghanistan is sometimes seen as a Central Asian country. However, after Afghanistan held elections, it became the eighth member.

Even though there have been changes in Afghanistan's government, it is still a SAARC member.

Observer Countries

Countries with observer status can attend meetings but are not full members. These include Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and the United States.

China's request to be an observer was strongly supported by many SAARC members in 2007. Other countries like the US, South Korea, and the European Union also gained observer status. Iran and Mauritius joined as observers later.

Future Members?

Some countries have shown interest in joining SAARC. Myanmar wants to become a full member. China and Russia have asked to be observers. Turkey also applied for observer status in 2012. Other countries like Indonesia, Jordan, Canada, and the UK have also shown interest.

SAARC Headquarters

Secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Kathmandu, Nepal

The main office for SAARC is called the SAARC Secretariat. It was opened in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 16 January 1987. The late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal officially opened it.

Special Groups

SAARC has created special groups in different member countries. These groups focus on specific tasks. They are managed by boards with representatives from all member states.

Regional Centres

The SAARC Secretariat also gets help from Regional Centres. These centers are set up in member states to help with cooperation. They are also managed by boards with representatives from all member states. Some regional centers were closed after 2015.

SAARC Anthem

SAARC does not have an official song or anthem. Some other groups, like ASEAN, do have one.

Main and Recognized Groups

SAARC has six main groups, called Apex Bodies:

• SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI)
• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Law (SAARCLAW)
• South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA)
• South Asia Foundation (SAF)
• South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC)
• Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL)

SAARC also has about 18 other recognized groups.

SAARC Disaster Management Centre

The SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC-IU) is located in Gandhinagar, India. It helps all eight SAARC member states. Its job is to give advice and support on how to manage disaster risks.

The center also helps countries share information and knowledge. This makes it easier to deal with disasters effectively.

Working Together and Challenges

Achieving lasting peace and success in South Asia can be difficult. This is because there are sometimes disagreements between countries. SAARC meetings often include talks about these issues. However, SAARC usually avoids getting involved in the internal matters of its member states.

At some SAARC meetings, leaders have strongly emphasized working together to fight terrorism.

In 2016, a SAARC summit was planned in Pakistan. But it was cancelled because India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Afghanistan decided not to attend. This happened after a serious incident in Uri. This was the first time four countries boycotted a SAARC summit.

SAARC has sometimes struggled to achieve stronger regional cooperation.

South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)

Countries under the South Asian Free Trade Area

The SAFTA was created to be the first step towards a free trade area in South Asia. The goal is to eventually have a Customs Union, a Common Market, and an Economic Union. In 1995, SAARC ministers agreed to work towards SAFTA.

The SAFTA Agreement was signed on 6 January 2004 in Islamabad, Pakistan. It officially started on 1 January 2006. Under this agreement, SAARC countries aimed to lower their trade taxes to 20 percent by 2009.

Trade within SAARC countries is still quite low. It makes up only about 1% of SAARC's total economic output. For comparison, in ASEAN, trade between member countries is about 10% of their total economic output.

Experts believe that trade within the SAARC region could greatly increase. The Asian Development Bank estimates that agricultural exports could go up by $14 billion each year.

SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme

The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme began in 1992. Leaders realized it was important for people from SAARC countries to visit each other easily. They decided that certain important people should not need visas to travel within the region.

Currently, 24 types of people can get this special travel document. These include important officials, judges, lawmakers, business people, journalists, and athletes.

Each member country issues these special visa stickers to its own citizens. The stickers are usually valid for one year. Immigration officials from SAARC countries regularly check how this scheme is working.

Awards

SAARC Award

The SAARC Award was approved in 2004. It supports people and groups in the region. The award aims to:

• Encourage activities that help SAARC's goals.
• Support those who improve the lives of women and children.
• Honor great achievements in peace, development, fighting poverty, protecting the environment, and regional cooperation.
• Recognize other important contributions.

The SAARC Award includes a gold medal, a special letter, and $25,000. It has only been given once. It was given after his death to the former President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh.

SAARC Literary Award

Recipients of SAARC Literary Award 2013

The SAARC Literary Award is given every year by the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL). This group is a main SAARC body. It has been given since 2001. Many famous writers and poets have received this award.

Nepali poet Suman Pokhrel is the only person to have won this award twice.

SAARC Youth Award

The SAARC Youth Award honors amazing young people from the SAARC region. This award is important because it recognizes their efforts across South Asia. Each year, the award focuses on a different theme.

The award celebrates young people who have made a big difference. This includes those who have created new inventions, protected the environment, or helped in disaster relief. Winners are chosen for their dedication to improving things in their own countries and setting an example for the whole SAARC region.

• 1992: Devang Soparkar (India) for painting on World Population Issue.
• 1997: Sukur Salek (Bangladesh) for social service.
• 1998: Najmul Hasnain Shah (Pakistan) for new inventions.
• 2001: Mushfiqul Alam (Bangladesh) for creative photography.
• 2002: Masil Khan (Pakistan) for protecting the environment.
• 2003: Hassan Sher (Pakistan) for invention in traditional medicine.
• 2004: Ajij Prasad Poudyal (Nepal) for raising awareness of TB and HIV/AIDS.
• 2006: Syed Zafar Abbas Naqvi (Pakistan) for promoting tourism.
• 2008: Deepani Jayantha (Sri Lanka) for protecting the environment.
• 2009: Ravikant Singh (India) for humanitarian work after natural disasters.
• 2010: Anoka Primrose Abeyrathne (Sri Lanka) for environmental protection and climate change.
• 2011: Mohamed Faseen Rafiu (The Maldives) for youth leadership against social problems.

Leaders of SAARC

The Secretary-General is the main leader of the SAARC Secretariat. This person helps manage the daily work of the organization.

SAARC Summits

SAARC summits are important meetings where the leaders of member countries come together. They discuss ways to cooperate and solve problems in the region.

Current Leaders of SAARC Countries

These are the current top leaders of the SAARC member countries. They are either the head of the country or the head of the government.

Current Leaders Table

See also

• ASEAN and India's Look-East connectivity projects
• Asia Cooperation Dialogue
• SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal Initiative
• BIMSTEC
• Indian-Ocean Rim Association
• ICAN
• List of SAARC summits
• Mekong–Ganga Cooperation
• SAARC satellite
• South Asian University
• South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
• Economic Cooperation Organization