International Business

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and geopolitical association of eight countries that are mainly located in South Asia. The design of regional political and economical cooperation in South Asia was first raised in May 1980 by Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman, when the association was established by the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Since then the association has expanded by accepting one new full member, Afghanistan and some spectator members. The SAARC policies plan to support welfare economics, collective self-reliance with the countries of South Asia.