SAARC Countries 2017

SAARC Countries List 2017

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia.

Headquarters – Kathmandu, Nepal

Founded - 8 December 1985, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Formation - 16 January 1987
Secretary-General– Arjun Bahadur Thapa

List of SAARC member countries (8)

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• India
• Maldives
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka

Objectives of SAARC

• To improve the quality of life of the peoples of South Asia 
• To accelerate economic growth and social progress the South Asian region
• To provide all individuals with the opportunity to live in dignity 
• To strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia
• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields
• To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries
• To cooperate with similar organizations with similar goals

SAARC Summit Held –

• 18th SAARC Summit 2014 – Kathmandu, Nepal
• 19th SAARC Summit 2016 – Islamabad, Pakistan (Cancelled, as Indian Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afganistan boycotted the summit)