South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
⦿ Regional inter-governmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia.
⦿ Its member states are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan,
⦿ It represent 3% of the world’s land area, 21% of the world’s population and 5.21%
⦿ SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.
⦿ Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
⦿ It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006.
⦿ The idea of co-operation among South Asian Countries was discussed in three conferences: the Asian Relations Conference held in New Delhi in April 1947; the Baguio Conference in the Philippines in May 1950; and the Colombo Powers Conference held in Sri Lanka in April 1954.
⦿ In 2005, Afghanistan began negotiating their accession to SAARC and formally applied for membership in the same year.
⦿ Myanmar has expressed interest in upgrading its status from an observer to a full member of SAARC.
⦿ China has requested joining SAARC.
⦿ The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 and was inaugurated by the late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal.
SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) – Dhaka
SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) – Dhaka
SAARC Forestry Centre (SFC) – Thimphu
SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC) – New Delhi
SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) – Gandhinagar
SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre (SCZMC) – Malé
SAARC Information Centre (SIC) – Kathmandu
SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Centre (STAC) – Kathmandu
SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC) – Islamabad
SAARC Energy Centre (SEC) – Islamabad
SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC) – Colombo
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