SAARC(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)

  • The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia.
  • Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
  • The SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 4.21% (US$3.67 trillion) of the global economy, as of 2019.
  • The SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.
  • Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration.
  • It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006.
  • The SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union.

Members

  • Afghanistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • India
  • Maldives
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka

Observers

  • Australia
  • China
  • European Union
  • Iran
  • Japan
  • Mauritius
  • Myanmar
  • South Korea
  • United States

Specialized Bodies

  • SAARC Arbitration Council(SARCO) - Islamabad, Pakistan
  • SAARC Development Fund(SDF) - Thimphu, Bhutan
  • South Asian University(SAU) - New Delhi, India
  • South Asian Regional Standards Organization(SARSO) - Dhaka, Bangladesh

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