The Secretary General of SAARC, Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial paid a courtesy call on Rt. Hon. Nanda Bahadur Pun, Vice President of Nepal, on 15 March 2017 at the office of the Vice President.

The Secretary General thanked the Government of Nepal for its support in his appointment and a warm welcome extended to him since his arrival at Kathmandu. The Secretary General expressed the hope that Nepal as the current Chair of SAARC will play an active role to reinvigorate the SAARC process. Secretary General Sial informed the Vice President about upcoming SAARC meetings and requested Nepal’s full support.

Rt. Hon. Vice President Pun congratulated Mr. Sial on his appointment as the new SAARC Secretary General and wished that with his experience and knowledge SAARC will be able to function more vigorously. He added that Nepal as a founding member of SAARC will continue to play an important role in all SAARC related events and activities and he will advise the line ministries to re-schedule the pending events which Nepal was supposed to host and implement the agreements which his country has signed with more dedication. Rt. Hon. Vice President Pun expressed his hope for the early convening of the 19th SAARC Summit.

The Secretary General of SAARC, Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Foreign Minister of Nepal, on 09 March 2017 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Foreign Minister felicitated the Secretary General on his appointment as the thirteenth Secretary General of SAARC. The Secretary General thanked the Government of Nepal for its support in his appointment and a warm welcome extended to him since his arrival at Kathmandu.

The Secretary General expressed the hope that he would continue to receive the valuable support of the Government of Nepal in the accomplishment of his important assignment. The Secretary General stated that SAARC can provide an important platform for achieving the objectives of socio-economic development of the region and amelioration of the people, as enshrined in the SAARC Charter. He stressed the need for improving intra-regional connectivity and early implementation of approved activities, especially the Ministerial events. He also sought support of the Government of Nepal, as chair, for strengthening the SAARC process.

The Foreign Minister conveyed his good wishes for success of Mr. Sial as Secretary General of SAARC and expressed the hope that his vast diplomatic experience, his previous experience of SAARC serving as the then Director (Pakistan), and expertise in the bilateral and multilateral fora will bring a new spirit in the SAARC Secretariat and will contribute in strengthening the SAARC process. He expressed the hope for the early convening of the 19th SAARC Summit. The Minister assured his full support for the Secretariat in all its endeavours for regional cooperation and expressed his solidarity and commitment for SAARC process.

09 March 2017.

MESSAGE FROM H. E. MR. AMJAD HUSSAIN B. SIAL,

SECRETARY GENERAL OF SAARC ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, 8 MARCH 2017

International Women’s Day is marked on 8 March every year as an opportunity for advocacy and creating awareness on issues that affect the lives of women and girls around the globe. This year’s theme is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”.

Globally, women and girls carry high burden of household work, compared to that of men and boys. While these efforts are generally unrecognized, unrewarded and taken for granted, what is most worrisome is that they diminish opportunities for women and girls. These hours of household work tend to reduce their opportunities for learning, paid work, sports, engagement in civic or community leadership and contribution to the formal economy.

Worldwide, only 50 per cent of working age women are represented in the labour force, compared to 76 percent of men. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of working women are concentrated in low-pay and low-skill occupations.

The world of work is changing rapidly, with technological advances and globalization. However, to a great extent, women have been left on the sidelines with no access to the opportunities brought about by these advancements. It is, therefore, a responsibility of governments, international organisations, the civil society and individuals alike, to step up efforts to achieve gender equality at work place and elsewhere to ensure that women too reap the full benefit of the unprecedented opportunities brought about by the changing world of work.

Since its inception, issues related to women have figured prominently on the SAARC agenda. Moreover, during successive Summit meetings, the SAARC Leaders have unequivocally expressed firm commitment to amleliorate the condition of women and girls across the region. In line with the Leaders’ directive, the internalised version of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), namely, the SAARC Development Goals (SDGs), contain four Goals devoted to the cause of women. In the meanwhile, established in 2015, the SAARC Gender Policy Advocacy Group  (SAARC GPAG) is currently working on developing a three-year Action Plan for the Member States. For the first time in SAARC, this Action Plan is intended to address “Recognition of the female heads of households, unpaid care work and women in the agriculture sector” as a strategic action area.

As we observe the International Women’s Day today, I reiterate SAARC’s commitment to achieve Gender Equality across South Asia. I would also like to take this opportunity to call upon all the stakeholders to accelerate efforts for Gender Equality towards a Planet 50-50 by 2030, by ensuring that the world of work, works for all women as well.

Amjad Hussain B. Sial

Secretary General, SAARC

Kathmandu, 08 March 2017

SCCI DELEGATION CALLS ON SECRETARY GENERAL, SAARC

An eight-member delegation of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)-Nepal Chapter led by Mr. Suraj Vaidya, President, SCCI, called on H. E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Secretary General of SAARC. 

On behalf of the SCCI, Mr. Vaidya congratulated Ambassador Sial on his assumption of charge as the thirteenth Secretary-General of SAARC and wished him every success in this important assignment. 

During the meeting, Mr. Vaidya shared with the Secretary-General the primary goal of the SCCI, which is to promote regional economic integration with particular emphasis on the promotion of people-to-people contacts, regional connectivity and tourism. He also shared with the Secretary General upcoming activities of the SCCI.  

Ambassador Sial appreciated the SCCI for the useful work it had been doing since its establishment as an Apex Body of SAARC. He emphasized that the promotion of people-to-people contacts will create space and facilitate closer cooperation among the SAARC Member States.  He assured that the SAARC Secretariat will extend its full cooperation to the SCCI in promoting the economic agenda of SAARC.