SAARC Topic: SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) -Inretrospect and Prospects Presentation by Prof. Dr. Khawaja Amjad Saeed Founder Principal, Hailey College of Banking & Finance, University of the Punjab, Lahore Pakistan ( ), Member Governing Council, International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), New York ( ), President, South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) (1997), President, Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan ( ), President, Association of Management Development Institutions of South Asia (AMDISA) ( ), Pro Vice-Chancellor University of the Punjab, Lahore ( ), Founder Director, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of the Punjab, Lahore ( ). Date & Venue December 08, 2010, Auditorium-Hailey College of Banking & Finance, PU, Lahore Event: Celebrating the 25 th Anniversary of the SAARC Charter Day on December 08,

WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM P RESENTATION F RAMEWORK 1.History 2.Principles 3.Objectives 4.Current members 5.Observes 6.Summits 7.Work Packages 8.Initiatives and Institutions 9.SAARC as No. 1 in the World. 10.Unique Features 11.SAARC Exports 12.Challenges 2

3 SAARC 1: HISTORY :Bangladesh Contribution 1983:IPA 1985:Charter-December 08, :Economic Union Dream? 2015:Single Currency?

4 SAARC 2: PRINCIPLES Focus:Cooperation in SAARC -Bilateral -Multilateral 1.Sovereign equality 2.Territorial integrity 3.Political independence 4.Non-interference in internal affairs af other states and mutual benefits

5 SAARC 3: OBJECTIVES 1.Inter-SAARC 1.Welfare to people (quality of life) 2.Economic growth 3.Collaboration -Economic -Social -Culture -Scientific 4.Collective self reliance 5.Mutual trust, under-standing and appreciation

6 SAARC 2.Intra-SAARC 1. Inter-cooperation in national forums 2. Domestic countries strengthening 3. International and regional organization

7 SAARC 4: SAARC-Current Members 1.Afghanistan 2.Bangladesh 3.Bhutan 4.India 5.Maldives 6.Nepal 7.Pakistan 8.Sri Lanka

8 SAARC 5: SAARC-Current Observers 1.Australia 2.China 3.Burmah 4.European Union 5.Iran 6.Japan 7.Mauritius 8.South Korea 9.United States Intention Expressed 1.Indonesia 2.Russia 3.South Africa

9 SAARC 6: SAARC-Summits S. No.LocationDate of Summit 1 st Dhaka7-8, December, nd Bangalore16-17 November, rd Kathmandu2-4 November, th Islamabad29-31 December, th Male21-23 November, th Colombo21 st December, th Dhaka10-11 April, th New Delhi2-4 May, th Male12-14 May, th Colombo29-31 July, 1998

10 SAARC 6: SAARC-Summits S. No.LocationDate of Summit 11 th Kathmandu4-6 January, th Islamabad2-6 January, th Dhaka12-13 November, thNew Delhi3-4 April, th Colombo1-3 August th Thimphu28-29 April, MaleNovember 2011(Planned)

11 SAARC 7: WORK PACKAGES 1.India4 1. Business information data networking 2. HRM 3. S & T 4. Social dimension in business development

12 SAARC WORK PACKAGES 2.Pakistan2 1. Trade 2. Investment 3.Sri Lanka 1 Women Entrepreneurship 4.Bangladesh 1 Telecommunication 5.Nepal 1 Travel & Tourism Maldives-tourism 6.Bhutan & Nepal1 Energy 10

13 SAARC 8: INITIATIVES - SAPTA - SAFTA - SAARC University INSTITUTIONS 1. People to people contact 2. Regional - Agricultural infrastructure: Bangladesh 3. Funds - Regional Projects - Japan Special Funds - South Asia Development Fund - Other Funds 4. SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry: Islamabad-1992

14 SAARC 9: SAARC As No. 1 in the World 1.Geo-economic region: 1.5 billion people. 2.GDP surpasses: $ 4.0T. 3.Combined average growth in GDP 7.00%. 4.Common market: SAPTA. 5.Commerce over 425 m.----in the largest single block. 6.The largest single block in the world. 7.Evaluating global economies.

15 SAARC 10: UNIQUE FEATURES: (USP) 1.The oldest ancient living civilizations 2.World’s sleeping giant 3.People of all regions, faiths, ideologies live 4.Economic force-common market 5.The largest irrigated area 6.The second largest railway network 7.The largest English speaking area 8.The largest labour force: 425m people

16 SAARC 9. Home of the poorest: -Job openings -Self employment m commerce-the largest single block

17 11: SAARC Exports 2008 Country US $b% 1.India Pakistan Bangladesh Sri Lanka Nepal Bhutan Maldives Global Exports 16.3 US Trillion Share of SAARC1.37% Source: Extracted From: World Development Report 2010, Statistical Section SAARC

18 SAARC 12: CHALLENGES 1.Poverty 2.Unemployment 3.Literacy 4.Governance 5.Education 6.Development 7.Enabling environment 8.Defense expenditure