Facts about south Asian regional association

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

SAARC is regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia.

It promotes development of economical and regional integration.

As of 2015, SAARC member countries compromise of 3% of the world’s area, 21% of the world’s population and 9.12% of the global economy.

Member Countries:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan (joined in 2007).

Nine observer States:
Australia, China, European Union, Japan, Iran, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and United States.

Formation History: The idea for the SAARC was proposed by Ziaur Rahman, the then President of Bangladesh on May 2, 1980.
The seven founding countries had met for first time in April 1981 and then for second time in 1985 creating SAARC Charter.
The first SAARC summit was held in Dhaka (Bangladesh) in December 1985.

The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu (Nepal) on 16 January 1987.