SAARC

1. It is social, political and economic co-operation of eight nations comprising of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

2. It’s Headquarter is in Kathmandu (Nepal).

3. It provide platform to the people of the south Asia to work together with the sprit of brotherhood.

4. 15^th SAARC summit was held in Colombo in Sept. 2008. The summit was mainly focused on (i) Food Bank

(ii) Combat terrorism

(iii) Food security

(iii) SAARC development fund

5. Additional emphasis on people to people connectivity at grass root level to boost bilateral trade mechanism, mutual collaboration on regional affairs.

6. Regional Co-operation:-

They renewed their agreement for mutual regional co-operation to accelerate

(i) Economic growth

(ii) Social Progress

(iii) Cultural Development.

Which will promote welfare and quality of life to people of South Asia.

7. Energy:- Paramount requirement to develop regional hydro-power potential grid and gas pipeline connectivity.

8. They laid special emphasis to counter human loss by natural disaster and warrant timely provision and relief in humanitarian emergency.

9. National disaster -------- response mechanism will be created to plan and co-ordinate approach to meet emergency challenges.

10. Poverty alleviation:-

(i) Sharing of experience

(ii) Stories of proper poverty reduction strategies such as Micro credit system, Community driven initiative and to make poor aware to know their rights to resources and development.

11. Drug Trafficking :-

All the countries agreed to obliterate (i) Drug trafficking (ii) Human trafficking (iii) Arms trafficking from the region.

12. SAFTA :-- South Asian Free Trade Agreement.

It is signed by member nations to enable comprehensive trade development across trade.

13. India enjoys geographical disposition among all SAARC nations which enable us to connect heavy revenue from the trade partnership between adjacent neighbours.

14. SAARC University is being set up in Delhi.