The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to foster collaboration between the two organizations in mutually agreed areas.
 
SAARC comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as its members, while CIRDAP consists of six SAARC Countries (excepting Bhutan and the Maldives) as well as Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, with its headquarters based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
 
H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of SAARC, and Dr. Cecep Effendi, Director-General of CIRDAP inked the Memorandum of Understanding at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu today. The present MoU replaces the erstwhile MoU signed in 2007 that expired in 2010.
 
The MoU signed today stands to open up a vista of opportunities for both the organizations to complement each other’s efforts in rural development and implement joint projects.  Prospective areas of cooperation outlined in the MoU include: rural development and women empowerment through agro-processing, promoting inter-regional trade in agricultural products, adopting techniques of climate smart agriculture,  generating user friendly database on rural statistics, establishing a virtual and multi-stakeholder supported Rural Development Information System (RDIS), formulating and implementing strategic Action Plan for rural development in the region and adopting an Integrated Rural Development Policy for South Asia.  
 
CIRDAP was established in 1979 in Dhaka to assist its membership in national action, promote regional cooperation and act as a servicing institution for the promotion of integrated rural development in the Asia Pacific region. SAARC came into existence in 1985 with the principal objectives of promoting the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and improving their quality of life by accelerating economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. 

H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) paid courtesy calls on Afghan dignitaries on 2nd and 3rd September 2015 during his visit to Afghanistan in connection with the Sixth Regional Economic Cooperation on Afghanistan (RECCA-VI), “The Silk Road through Afghanistan” held in Kabul on 3-4 September 2015.

During his calls on H.E. Dr. Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and H. E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, H. E. the Secretary-General of SAARC, while thanking the high dignitaries for receiving him, stated that it was his long-cherished wish to visit Afghanistan.  He also briefed the dignitaries on the current status of regional cooperation under the auspices of SAARC with particular reference to regional connectivity and economic integration.  Recalling the signing of the Inter-governmental Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation during the last SAARC Summit, H. E. the Secretary-General requested esteemed Government of Afghanistan to complete internal procedures to make the Agreement to come into effect. He also requested Afghanistan to speed up the process of ratification of other SAARC agreements, especially, the SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters. 

H. E. the Secretary-General expressed appreciation to Afghanistan for playing its due role in contributing towards the objectives of SAARC since its joining the Association in April 2007.  He also thanked Afghanistan for holding a number of important meetings as well as for its offers to hold SAFTA meetings during October 2015. 

 H.E. the President of Afghanistan Dr. Ashraf Ghani expressed his Government’s unflinching commitment towards meeting all the obligations arising out of the legal instruments adopted by SAARC. He also conveyed his deep condolences to the Government and people of Nepal over the losses caused by the devastating earthquake. He expressed his confidence that the government and people of Nepal will successfully cope with the aftermath of the disaster.

 The Chief Executive of Afghanistan, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, while terming regional and international cooperation a vital factor in the prosperity of Afghanistan, reaffirmed Afghanistan’s support and commitment to SAARC.  

 While in Kabul, H. E. the Secretary-General met H. E. Mr. Salahuddin Rabbani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan over a luncheon during which they exchanged views on SAARC-related issues.

H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) called on H. E. Ms. Sujatha Singh, Foreign Secretary of India at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi today.

During the meeting, the Secretary-General appraised the Foreign Secretary about the current status of regional cooperation under SAARC. He also briefed the Foreign Secretary about the issues to be discussed during the Inter Summit Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers scheduled for 17-20 February 2014 in the Maldives.   

Ms. Sripriya Ranganathan, Joint Secretary, SAARC Division at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi and Mrs. L. Savithri, Director, SAARC Secretariat, were also present at the meeting.

Ambassador of Afghanistan H. E. Mr. Shaida Muhamad Abdali paid a courtesy call on H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of SAARC on 18 December 2014 at the SAARC Secretariat.

H. E. Mr. Abdali congratulated H. E. the Secretary General of SAARC on the successful conclusion of the Eighteenth SAARC Summit and its preceding meetings, particularly on signing the SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity). He wished for successful implementation of the decisions taken during the Summit, expressed the need to empower the Secretariat, and emphasized on learning from successful stories and experiences of other similar organizations such as EU. 

H. E. Mr. Abdali emphasized on the importance of security and collective efforts to resolve conflicts in the region. He also stressed on the communalities among the Member States that augured well for ensuring peace and harmony in the region. He pointed out the significance of the geographic location of Afghanistan for connecting South Asia.

H. E. Mr. Abdali expressed the eagerness of Afghanistan in hosting a SAARC Regional Centre to strengthen its sense of ownership over SAARC. He also pointed out that TAPI, a mega-project which was signed among Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in 2012, aimed at boosting peace and stability through regional energy cooperation, can be a threshold in transforming the South Asian region. With three SAARC Member Countries, namely Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, already on board, and with the rest of South Asian countries showing interest to join the project, it can provide the ground for a collective venture. 

H.E. the Secretary General, while thanking the Ambassador Abdali for his visit, expressed deep appreciation for Afghan Government’s contribution in advancing the agenda of SAARC.  He also stressed on the need for improving intra-regional connectivity by signing Motor Vehicles and Railways Agreements.

Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim Ghafoori, Director, SAARC Secretariat and and Mr. Sayed Mujtaba Ahmadi, Economic Counselor, Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi were also present at the meeting