Question

Explain the details of the next regional organization.

SAARC

Answer 1

SAARC was formed in 1985 at Dhaka. Originally, SAARC had seven members, namely India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. In 2007, Afghanistan was added as the eighth member. Meanwhile, China, USA, EU along with 9 other nations have been conferred with the 'observer status'. The main aim of SAARC was to establish a dialogue in South Asia. With this context, South Asian Association for Preferential Trade Arrangement (SAPTA) came into existence in 1993. Later in 2006, SAARC's free trade arrangement was activated through the South Asian Association Free Trade Area (SAFTA) which replaced the earlier regime of SAPTA.