South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Foundation Date: December 8, 1985

Headquarter: Kathmandu

Secretary-General: Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa

Member Countries: 8

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally approved on 8 December 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan became a member of SAARC during the Fourteenth SAARC Summit held in Delhi, India in April 2007. Until 2009 China, Japan, Republic of Korea, USA, Iran, Mauritius, Australia, Myanmar and the European Union have joined SAARC as Observers.

Objective:

1. To promote the welfare of the peoples of SOUTH ASIA and to improve their quality of life.
2. 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 realise their full potentials.
3. Too promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of SOUTH ASIA;d) to contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problems.
4. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields.
5. To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.
6. To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests.
7. To cooperate with international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes.