Saarc
Essay Preview: Saarc
Report this essay
Introduction
Background
This report is a requirement of MBA program in East West University. We are doing it to complete the course Business Communication (MBA 506). We were provided a list of topics in the class and from that we chose our topic ÐSAARC – An Overview.
Objective
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on December 8, 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding.
In this report we shall try to go through the main goals of the association. 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.
Scope
This report highlights the following areas of SAARC:
History
Areas of Co-operation
Regional Convention/Agreements
Secretariat
Funds
Events
Regional Centers
Awards/Internships
Publications
Methodology
The data and information used in this report are collected from the internet and books, journals and periodicals related to SAARC.
Definitions
SAARC
– South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation
SAFTA
– SAARC Free Trade Area
SAPTA
– SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement
– SAARC Expert Group
– SAARC Member Countries
– SAARC Economic Association
– South Asian Economic Union
SACODiL
– SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning
ISACPA
– Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation
– Asian Development Bank
– Foreign Direct Investment
ASEAN
– Association of Southeast Asian Nations
– Research and Development
– World Health Organization
– United Nations Development Program
UNICEF
– United Nations International Children Emergency Fund
Limitations
Most of the data used in the report were collected from third party sources. We did not have the opportunity to conduct any research or survey on our own.
Report Preview
The report starts by providing a brief idea about SAARC. It describes how the association was formed and its main objectives. It also gives an outline about different bodies of SAARC and their activities.
We present detailed information on different areas of co-operation of its member countries in the next section. The major areas covered are Agriculture and Rural Development; Health and Population Activities; Women, Youth and Children; Environment and Forestry; Science and Technology and Meteorology; Human Resources Development; Transport.
Then we highlight on SAARC Secretariat and its Regional Centers. The SAARC Secretariat is supported by different regional centers established in different member countries.
In the latter sections of the report we introduced brief descriptions of different SAARC Agreements, Funds, Awards/Internships and publications.
Finally the report is concluded with some recommendations.
Brief on SAARC
The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first mooted in May 1980. The foreign secretaries of the seven countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Srilanka) met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. The committee of the whole, which met in Colombo in August 1981, identified five broad areas for regional cooperation.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on 8 December 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of seven countries.
The objectives of the Association as defined in the Charter are:
To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life
To accelerate 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
To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia
To contribute to mutual trust, understand and appreciation of one anothers problem
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 interest
To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes
The Association provides a platform for the people of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life through accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.
Cooperation in the SAARC is based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, noninterference in internal affairs of the Member States