Presentation on SAARC By Goutam Ghosh Head South Asia FICCI
SAARC The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an organisation of South Asian nations, which was established on 8 December 1985 when the government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka formally adopted its charter providing for the promotion of economic and social progress, cultural development within the South Asia region and also for friendship and cooperation with other developing countries. It is dedicated to economic, technological, social, and cultural development emphasising collective self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Sri Lanka, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Afghanistan joined the organisation in 2007. It is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Secretariate The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 It is headed by the Secretary General appointed by the Council of Ministers from Member Countries in an alphabetical order for a three-year term The Secretariat coordinates and monitors implementation of activities, prepares for and services meetings, and serves as a channel of communication between the Association and its Member States as well as other regional organisations The SAARC Secretariat and Member States observe 8 th December as the SAARC Charter Day
Apex and Recognised Bodies of SAARC SAARC has six Apex Bodies, namely, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), Islamabad SAARCLAW (South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation In Law), Guragon South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), New Delhi South Asia Foundation (SAF), New Delhi South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC), Kathmandu Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL), New Delhi SAARC also has about 17 recognised bodies
Creation of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) SAARC Secretariat Study on Trade, Manufactures and Services 1988 Improve in business environment Recommended formation of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in 1991 to Disseminate information about potential tradable goods Seven National Apex Chambers join together to create SAARC Chamber in 1994 Identify potential joint ventures SCCI gets official recognisation from the National Governments of SAARC Countries in 1992
Institutional Set Up SCCI Permanent Secretariat Islamabad The SCCI comprise the following organs: a. The Executive Committee b. The General Assembly c. The Secretariat President elected for two years by the Executive Committee of SCCI President ship is on rotation The First President was Mr S N Inam from Pakistan The Current President is Mr Vikramjit Singh Sahney from India
Organizational Flow Chart PRESIDENT SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry VICE PRESIDENT Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka SAARC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SECRETARIAT) Executive Committee and General Assembly Members SCCI COUNCILS Tourism, Construction, Women Entrepreneurs etc. SAARC DESKS FBCCI, BCCI, FICCI, MNCCI, FNCCI, FPCCI, FCCISL
The constituents of SCCI are : Apex National Chambers representing large number of regional and local chambers/business Associations in eight countries Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (to be formally inducted) Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry Maldives National Chambers of Commerce & Industry Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka
Objectives of SCCI The objectives of the SCCI are: To encourage Trade, Service, Industry, Small & Medium Enterprise To make recommendations to safeguard the economic and business interests of the SAARC To serve as a consultative body of the Private Sector of the region To encourage Member Countries to accord preferential terms of trade to each other To promote the exchange of commercial, technical, industrial management and scientific information, education and know-how amongst its members To collate, collect and disseminate statistical data and joint research and development among the SAARC Member Countries
Focused Areas The thrust areas for the SCCI can be divided in to five major areas: Awareness building on key economic issues like trade facilitation, NTBs, TBTs, harmonization of customs procedures, intra-regional investment etc. Develop global linkages as a part of its outreach strategy Provide services to its members and representatives of the private sector Work closely with governments and civil society to raise the concern on socio-economic issues Develop an institutional framework for supporting economic cooperation
Business to Government (B2G) linkages Acting as advisory group on member governments to proceed on regional economic cooperation agenda To give policy inputs and business perspective for various issues pertaining trade and investment SCCI and its members Federations are permanent invitees to several committees of member governments SAARC Chamber is working consistently to impress upon the governments of the region to give primacy to economic issues leaving politics behind
Achievements of SCCI SCCI acceptance and respectability in all countries with businessmen and policy makers SAARC Secretariat has accepted several recommendations of SCCI with regard to SAPTA, SAFTA, Visa exemption and other issues SAARC Chamber is a permanent invitee to SAARC Committee for economic cooperation, which meet from time to time to discuss economic issues SAARC Chamber has been successful in expanding business networks and establishing successful business partnerships Prominent role in bringing closer the business communities of India and Pakistan in particular
Role of FICCI in SCCI FICCI played a catalytic role from the very inception with the objective of nurturing and empowering private sector organizations for promoting regional economic cooperation and is one of the founding members of SCCI FICCI shares SCCI objective to liberalize the markets of South Asia in order to create a dynamic, prosperous and peaceful South Asia. FICCI strongly believes in the potential of regional cooperation to end historical conflict.
FICCI s Initiatives in fostering India s Trade and Commerce with the SAARC countries SCCI and FICCI remains committed to playing a pivotal role in enhancing trade and economic cooperation among SAARC nations. Has strengthened its networking with the government, civil society, business community and intelligentsia in the region Capacity building of Chambers of Commerce within SAARC region Sensitizing business community from time-to-time on SAARC issues pertaining to: SAPTA and now SAFTA Movement of people and goods in the SAARC region Harmonization & mutual recognition of standards Facilitation of Intra-Regional Trade and Investment Government-Industry Partnership Buyer-Seller Meets
Contd. FICCI jointly with SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized 1 st and 2 nd SAARC Business Leaders Conclave in 2005 and 2007 at New Delhi and Mumbai respectively. The 3 rd and 4 th edition was held in 2009 and 2001 at Colombo and Kathmandu respectively. The 5 th SAARC Business Leaders Conclave will be organized by FICCI in January 2014 at New Delhi. FICCI jointly with MEA, SAARC Secretariat, ADB and SCCI organized a conference on Harnessing Business Opportunities for South Asian Economic Integration in November, 2009. FICCI also has a specialized forum known as FICCI SAARC Forum. Its membership is open to corporate, business houses, small & medium enterprises of India with focused business interest in SAARC countries. It provides business information, match making and visa assistance to its members
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