SAARC Ministerial Visit : Review

The 37^th council of Ministers of SAARC met in Nepal ahead of the 19^th SAARC Summit in November. The 37th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers’ meeting was inaugurated by Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Pokhara, Nepal.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by members of Nepal’s Council of Ministers, parliamentarians and secretaries of the foreign and external affairs ministries of the eight member countries of SAARC among top government officials.

Established: 1985

SAARC Countries: Eight Member Countries :

Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka.

Observer States:

Australia
US
European Union
Iran
Japan
South Korea
Mauritius
Myanmar
China.

SAARC Secretary General – Arjun Bahadur Thapa (Nepal)

SAARC Secretariat – Kathmandu, Nepal

The Council, comprising the Foreign Ministers of Member States, generally meets twice a year. SAARC Secretary General, Arjun Bahadur Thapa, stated SAARC’s commitment in binding the member states in a thread of unity at the meeting.

Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, who is presiding over the 37th Council of Ministers’ meeting, called for linking the SAARC countries through water, land and air routes and emphasizing the need for ushering in progressive economic programme for expansion of trade in the region.

The SAARC Standing Committee meeting determined a host of agendas to be presented at the Council of Ministers. It includes issues like the implementation of past agreements that were endorsed by the member states and completing the SAARC activities in stipulated timeframe.

The Standing Committee has also proposed for holding the SAARC Summit biannually in the month of November. It has also proposed to hold the 19th SAARC Summit this November in Pakistan.

The meeting focussed on current ongoing activities, climate change, environmental conservation, natural disaster, health, bio-energy, social development, technology and communications.

The venue of previous and Next SAARC Summit is as follows:

18^th SAARC Summit 2014: Kathmandu, Nepal

19^th SAARC Summit 2016: Islamabad, Pakistan