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What is the full form of SAARC?

By Anushree Goswami Last updated : April 20, 2024

SAARC is an abbreviation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It is an economic and geopolitical organization of eight countries that are situated in South Asia.

These countries are:

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

Image source: https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0:SAARC_Logo.svg

The SAARC Secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Amjad Hussain B. Sial is the current Secretary-General of SAARC.

• In terms of GDP (PPP) after the USA and China, it is the 3rd largest economy of the world
• In terms of nominal GDP, it is the 8th largest economy of the world.

Formation of SAARC

• In the late 1970s, the seven south Asian countries comprised India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan settled and decided upon the establishment of trade bloc to offer a platform for the people of South Asia to work simultaneously in the spirit of friendship, trust, and understanding.
• On May 2, 1980, this initiative of establishment of trade bloc was first lifted by Zia Ur Rahaman.
• On December 8, 1985, the first summit was conducted in Dhaka.

Areas of Cooperation of SAARC

These are the five fundamental areas of cooperation allocated by SAARC:

• Human Resources Development.
• Population and health-related activities.
• Rural and agriculture development.
• Science, Technology, and Telecommunication.
• Transport.

Apex and Recognized organizations

SAARC has six Apex organizations, which are given in the following:

• 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 17 recognized organizations.

SAARC Disaster Management Centers

• South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Disaster Management Centre (SDMC-IU) has been established at the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) Campus, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
• Eight Member States, i.e., Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are likely to be served by the SDMC (IU).
• Disaster Management Centre is assigned with the responsibility of serving Member States by offering policy recommendations, technical support on system expansion, competence building facilities and preparation and guidance for holistic management of disaster risk in the SAARC area.
• The center also makes the possible exchange of information and proficiency for effectual and well-organized management of disaster risk.