H. E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Secretary General of SAARC, delivered a talk on Regional Cooperation under SAARC: Way Forward at the Tribhuvan University this morning.

The talk was attended by the Rector of the University, faculty members and students of International Relations and Diplomacy Programme.

In his presentation, the Secretary General introduced SAARC to the participants, focusing primarily on its genesis, membership, objectives, principles, general provisions, institutional mechanisms and areas of cooperation, as determined by the Council of Ministers. He briefed the meeting about SAARC’s collaboration with Observers, regional and international organizations, many of which are UN’s specialized agencies. He also enunciated important developments since the establishment of SAARC in 1985. Stating that the cardinal objective of SAARC is to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia, he emphasized that SAARC’s focus has been on effective implementation of the decisions taken by the Member States rather than proliferation of areas of cooperation, mechanisms and institutions.

Touching upon the core subject of his talk, the Secretary General brought to the fore the way forward in making SAARC vibrant in the attainment of its Charter objectives. He emphasized the need to promote project-based collaboration through the SAARC Development Fund, an umbrella funding mechanism created in 2010. Underscoring that improved connectivity is the key to effective regional integration, and promotion of economic relations, people-to-people contacts and tourism, he highlighted the need to effectively implement the Agreement on the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and actively pursue the decisions of the Eighteenth Summit regarding establishment of the South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) in a phased and planned manner through creation of Free Trade Area, Customs Union, Common Market and Common Economic and Monetary Union.

The Secretary General’s presentation was followed by a question-answer session in which the participants raised issues pertinent to the efficacy and sustainability of SAARC in the present context.

Kathmandu, 18 July 2018.

The Fifty-fifth Session of the Programming Committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was held in Kathmandu today under the Chairpersonship of Nepal.

The one-day Session of the Programming Committee was attended by representatives from all Member States of SAARC.

H. E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Secretary General of SAARC, addressed the Fifty-fifth Session of the Programming Committee this morning. He congratulated Mr. Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary (SAARC) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal on assuming the Chairmanship of the Programming Committee. He also welcomed the delegates to the meeting and wished them successful deliberations.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Dhakal reiterated commitment of Nepal to the SAARC process and commended constructive contribution of the Member States in the attainment of the objectives of SAARC. He also appreciated role of the SAARC Secretariat and excellent arrangements made for the meeting.

The Programming Committee performs functions of selection of regional projects and their location, formulation of cost-sharing modalities and mobilization of external resources. The Committee is also mandated to scrutinize budgets of the SAARC Secretariat, SAARC Regional Centres and Specialized Bodies of SAARC, besides determining inter-sectoral priority and finalizing annual Calendar of Activities. It makes its recommendations to the Standing Committee of SAARC comprising Foreign Secretaries.

The Programming Committee was accorded the status of a Charter Body of SAARC by the Eighteenth SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in November 2014. The Committee comprises Heads of SAARC Division at the level of Director General/Joint Secretary in the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs of the Member States, who also act as National Focal Points of SAARC.

The Programming Committee last met at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu on 12-13 December 2017.

Kathmandu, 06 July 2018

The Core Group of SAARC Immigration Authorities and Visa Experts commenced its meeting at the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, today.

Comprising representatives from the Immigration Authorities of the Member States of SAARC, the Core Group will discuss measures to streamline the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, including development of its security software for implementation across the region.

Addressing the meeting of the Core Group, H. E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Secretary General of SAARC, referred to the launch of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme as a milestone step towards enhancing people-to-people contacts in the region. He said, “It is essential for promoting regional integration, economic relations and tourism. The ultimate goal is to have a visa free regime in the SAARC region.”

The First Meeting of the Core Group was held in October 2017 in the SAARC Secretariat, which deliberated over the Requests for Proposal for development of a security software for the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. The current Meeting is expected to finalize an electronic visa under the Scheme.

The Fifth SAARC Summit held in the Maldives in 1990 had decided to launch the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. The Scheme became operational in 1992. It allows entitled categories of people visa-free travel across the region.

Kathmandu, 28 June 2018

The Fourteenth SAARCFINANCE Governors’ Symposium began in Kathmandu today. Devoted to the theme, “Developing a Common Platform for Strengthening Digital Payment System in the SAARC Region”, the two-day Symposium was organized by Nepal Rastra Bank under the auspices of SAARCFINANCE.

The Symposium was attended by the Governors and Deputy Governors of the Central Banks of the Member States of SAARC.

The Hon. Finance Minister of Nepal graced the Inaugural Session of the Symposium. Addressing the Inaugural Session of the Symposium, the Minister underlined the need for strengthened collaboration among the monetary authorities of the Member States. H. E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), also addressed the Inaugural Session of the Symposium. He said, “With a view to achieving the objectives of SAARC, our leaders have expressed their resolve to promote trade, economic and financial relations among the Member States. More recently, during the Eighteenth SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in November 2014, our leaders expressed their strong determination to deepen regional integration by intensifying cooperation, inter alia, in trade, investment and finance. More importantly, our leaders renewed their commitment to achieve South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) in a phased and planned manner through a Free Trade Area, a Customs Union, a Common Market, and a Common Economic and Monetary Union.”

In his Address, the Secretary General also touched upon measures initiated by SAARC in the progression towards the eventual goal of SAEU, including efforts underway to promote intra-regional trade, and improve intra-regional connectivity and infrastructure. SAARCFINANCE is a network of Governors of the Central Banks of the Member States of SAARC. Its primary objective is to share experiences on macroeconomic policy issues and promote collaboration among the monetary authorities in the region.

_________

Kathmandu, 27 June 2018