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27 years of SAARC go waste
September 13, 2011
By Shumaila Raja
Twenty-seven years are on, SAARC has always been hijacked by the regional bully India to its own benefits. The South Asian organization could have been used for the uplift and development of this region, for the betterment and goodwill of the peoples of its member countries, but unfortunately no headway has been made under the duress or in the absence of will on part of the big.
As a common regional cooperation forum, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was founded in 1985. The regional organization was set up as per the concept of regionalism, which has been gaining ground worldwide. SAARC aims to promote well-being of the people in this part of the world and improve their living standard. Gearing up economic growth, making social progresses and cultural developments, reinforcing links between the member states and enhancing mutual collaboration and assistance in the economic, social, technical and scientific fields are other objectives of this organization.
SAARC performance in the last 27 years has been mixed. On the economic front, the South Asian countries have achieved impressive growth rate above 7.0 percent on the annual average in the last two decades. The regional economies have best weathered the impact of severe global economic recession inflicted by a massive financial crisis have since 2007. In 2007, Afghanistan and Bhutan witnessed growth in double digit. The other regional economies, except Nepal, have growth above 6.0 percent. The regional economies, however, are facing slumping demand for their exports, significant reduction in foreign investment particularly foreign direct investment. The decline in exports has weakened the region’s current account position.
The South Asia has also achieved limited success in technological advancement at a time when the world is witnessing rapid changes in the technological conditions, high sophistication of development and huge capital mobility in countries with developed infrastructure, skilled manpower, security and political stability. The region has not developed required technological knowledge and skill-base to become competitive in the global market. Because of low knowledge and skill-base, the productivity per worker is low and cost of doing business in the region is very high. South Asian countries are more exposed to new challenges and great uncertainty in the global economy.
The global economic crisis has affected developed and developing countries alike. Fundamental structural imbalances have resulted in economic inequality and retarded growth. The shape of globalisation, WTO regime and structural conditional ties by IMF and other development finance institutions are requiring efforts for removing fundamental structural and macroeconomic imbalances which have perpetuated increase in poverty and economic inequity in most of the regional economies. The SAARC countries need to respond to the emerging situation in a holistic manner by forging a common strategy by exploring options to safeguard regional interest through joint venture, and technology transfer among its member countries.
Cohesive and economically integrated South Asia would be better positioned to negotiate globally for advantageous terms of trade with WTO regime and development institutions. The acceleration of regional economic activities would help to enrich the lives of the people of the region and resolve the problem of poverty, weak social indicators and barriers of global trade policies to mutual comparative advantages.
The region is full of challenges and opportunities. South Asia is home to more than 1.5 billion people associated with various racial, lingual and religious groups. Some of the main challenges and problems facing the region include poverty, illiteracy, underdevelopment, terrorism, human trafficking, and racial and ethnic conflicts. Similarly, food and energy crises have also come out as burning issues of the region. In spite of such challenges and problems, South Asia is abundant in human as well as natural resources. When these resources are managed and utilized effectively, the region is sure to make considerable socio-economic progress within a short span of time.
The South Asian people have many reasons to be optimistic if we look at the SAARC Charter that has included all the existing realities in the sub-continent, with the countries of different sizes, various levels of socio-economic development, historical legacies between and among the nations of the region. But, when the progress made by SAARC is assessed minutely, we do not find a very encouraging picture in terms of quality of life the people in South Asia.
However, SAARC is gradually fostering cooperation among the member states in a wide range of areas. Because of its contributions to promoting peace, good neighborly relations and bringing about socio-economic transformation in the region, SAARC has become a valuable forum among its member states. As a saying goes: ‘Rome was not built in a day’, the regional forum also requires some more time to achieve its goals and objectives.
It goes without saying that terrorism is one of the major concerns of SAARC. The issues related to food security, energy and trade are equally important in the region. Moreover, effective connectivity, cooperation, coordination, dignity, welfare and quality of living standard of the people in the South Asia are also crucial agendas. The 15th Summit has pledged for improving and implementing SAFTA by sighing an agreement on South Asian Regional Standards Organization. The commitment to materializing the fast track projects for improving intra-regional connectivity and facilitating socio-economic sector could help strengthen the people-to-people ties in the region.
Similarly, the South Asian leaders’ realization to form the South Asian Economic Union could yet another valuable effort for the development and diversity of intra-regional trade in positive way. The contribution of the observer countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Mauritius, USA and EU, and new observers– Australia and Myanmar– could be very crucial. They are expected to play a pivotal role in developing South Asia as a prosperous and developed region. Anyway, looking at the resolutions of the 15th Summit, it can be said that the SAARC process is on the right track, as the regional organization is committed to bringing about tangible changes in the lives of people. The regional forum has taken its third decade as a period of implementation. How SAARC declarations and commitments will be implemented remains to be seen.
If the regional problems are to be solved seriously and honestly, the member countries will have to join hands against the menace of terrorism first, and then to solve the disputes amongst them. India as a major power in the region, has to play its part of mature role, only then can the region turn into area of peace without the interference of foreign powers.
September 13, 2011
By Shumaila Raja
Twenty-seven years are on, SAARC has always been hijacked by the regional bully India to its own benefits. The South Asian organization could have been used for the uplift and development of this region, for the betterment and goodwill of the peoples of its member countries, but unfortunately no headway has been made under the duress or in the absence of will on part of the big.
As a common regional cooperation forum, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was founded in 1985. The regional organization was set up as per the concept of regionalism, which has been gaining ground worldwide. SAARC aims to promote well-being of the people in this part of the world and improve their living standard. Gearing up economic growth, making social progresses and cultural developments, reinforcing links between the member states and enhancing mutual collaboration and assistance in the economic, social, technical and scientific fields are other objectives of this organization.
SAARC performance in the last 27 years has been mixed. On the economic front, the South Asian countries have achieved impressive growth rate above 7.0 percent on the annual average in the last two decades. The regional economies have best weathered the impact of severe global economic recession inflicted by a massive financial crisis have since 2007. In 2007, Afghanistan and Bhutan witnessed growth in double digit. The other regional economies, except Nepal, have growth above 6.0 percent. The regional economies, however, are facing slumping demand for their exports, significant reduction in foreign investment particularly foreign direct investment. The decline in exports has weakened the region’s current account position.
The South Asia has also achieved limited success in technological advancement at a time when the world is witnessing rapid changes in the technological conditions, high sophistication of development and huge capital mobility in countries with developed infrastructure, skilled manpower, security and political stability. The region has not developed required technological knowledge and skill-base to become competitive in the global market. Because of low knowledge and skill-base, the productivity per worker is low and cost of doing business in the region is very high. South Asian countries are more exposed to new challenges and great uncertainty in the global economy.
The global economic crisis has affected developed and developing countries alike. Fundamental structural imbalances have resulted in economic inequality and retarded growth. The shape of globalisation, WTO regime and structural conditional ties by IMF and other development finance institutions are requiring efforts for removing fundamental structural and macroeconomic imbalances which have perpetuated increase in poverty and economic inequity in most of the regional economies. The SAARC countries need to respond to the emerging situation in a holistic manner by forging a common strategy by exploring options to safeguard regional interest through joint venture, and technology transfer among its member countries.
Cohesive and economically integrated South Asia would be better positioned to negotiate globally for advantageous terms of trade with WTO regime and development institutions. The acceleration of regional economic activities would help to enrich the lives of the people of the region and resolve the problem of poverty, weak social indicators and barriers of global trade policies to mutual comparative advantages.
The region is full of challenges and opportunities. South Asia is home to more than 1.5 billion people associated with various racial, lingual and religious groups. Some of the main challenges and problems facing the region include poverty, illiteracy, underdevelopment, terrorism, human trafficking, and racial and ethnic conflicts. Similarly, food and energy crises have also come out as burning issues of the region. In spite of such challenges and problems, South Asia is abundant in human as well as natural resources. When these resources are managed and utilized effectively, the region is sure to make considerable socio-economic progress within a short span of time.
The South Asian people have many reasons to be optimistic if we look at the SAARC Charter that has included all the existing realities in the sub-continent, with the countries of different sizes, various levels of socio-economic development, historical legacies between and among the nations of the region. But, when the progress made by SAARC is assessed minutely, we do not find a very encouraging picture in terms of quality of life the people in South Asia.
However, SAARC is gradually fostering cooperation among the member states in a wide range of areas. Because of its contributions to promoting peace, good neighborly relations and bringing about socio-economic transformation in the region, SAARC has become a valuable forum among its member states. As a saying goes: ‘Rome was not built in a day’, the regional forum also requires some more time to achieve its goals and objectives.
It goes without saying that terrorism is one of the major concerns of SAARC. The issues related to food security, energy and trade are equally important in the region. Moreover, effective connectivity, cooperation, coordination, dignity, welfare and quality of living standard of the people in the South Asia are also crucial agendas. The 15th Summit has pledged for improving and implementing SAFTA by sighing an agreement on South Asian Regional Standards Organization. The commitment to materializing the fast track projects for improving intra-regional connectivity and facilitating socio-economic sector could help strengthen the people-to-people ties in the region.
Similarly, the South Asian leaders’ realization to form the South Asian Economic Union could yet another valuable effort for the development and diversity of intra-regional trade in positive way. The contribution of the observer countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Mauritius, USA and EU, and new observers– Australia and Myanmar– could be very crucial. They are expected to play a pivotal role in developing South Asia as a prosperous and developed region. Anyway, looking at the resolutions of the 15th Summit, it can be said that the SAARC process is on the right track, as the regional organization is committed to bringing about tangible changes in the lives of people. The regional forum has taken its third decade as a period of implementation. How SAARC declarations and commitments will be implemented remains to be seen.
If the regional problems are to be solved seriously and honestly, the member countries will have to join hands against the menace of terrorism first, and then to solve the disputes amongst them. India as a major power in the region, has to play its part of mature role, only then can the region turn into area of peace without the interference of foreign powers.
