Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's apparent move to revamp the eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is being viewed by analysts as 'a cold lemonade in the sun-burnt Sahara.' His immediate dispatch of newly-appointed Indian foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to SAARC capitals-the latter's first overseas assignment--reflects the great importance Modi attaches to the potential of the SAARC as an engine of growth for the entire region. In Dhaka, he sent his letter to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina through Jaishankar and it is understood that similar letters were also sent to the other SAARC heads of state or government.
Analysts are viewing Narendra Modi's interest in the SAARC keenly. It was for the first time in the history of the region that a newly-elected Indian prime minister invited all SAARC heads of state and government during his inauguration in Delhi. This was a remarkable gesture by Modi, a solid proof that he does not want the regional grouping, innovated by Bangladesh, to vanish into oblivion. Certainly, the SAARC, if developed on realistic keel and proper lines, can serve as a launching pad for development of all the countries of the region. It could reduce the rich-poor gaps among the member-countries through collaborative efforts given the required political will. Modi's initiatives are clearly indicative of this.
Why is the SAARC so important? The very assembly of eight heads of state and government in one place annually reflects great import of such a regional bloc. During one or two days of summits, they could find an occasion to mingle together, cut jokes together, eat together and do serious business together. These are a positive pointer to a regional amity that the SAARC could deliver seeing off all differences. One was certainly frustrated when the SAARC Secretariat had recently folded some of its ventures for reasons not yet explained but Modi's latest move rekindles the hope of better days for the South Asian bloc.
It will be Bangladesh first to feel shocked if the SAARC suffers a debacle. This is because it was Dhaka which had mooted the idea for such a regional cooperation. Bangladesh will surely be happy if it could contribute its efforts to strengthening of the Association.
Severe power shortages across the South Asian region are crippling all efforts for development. That was possibly why it was India first to have had called for integrating the entire SAARC region by a robust power grid system to address power deficit. A SAARC power grid linking Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan (the Maldives being in the Indian Ocean excluded) has the estimated potential to install at least 1,00,000 megawatts in the region for common use, former Indian Minister of State for Power KC Venugopal once estimated.
In fact, Bangladesh too will be keen to see integration of the entire region by a robust power grid for exchange of power since no South Asian country will be able to meet its energy needs entirely from its own domestic resources. Even though India has reached a significant installed capacity of 1,72,000 megawatts, the shortages have been in the range of more than 10 per cent during the peak hours.
On the other hand, the SAARC provides the framework to face formidable challenges in South Asia with low growth in per capita GDP, intra-regional trade and global FDI. The region's per capita GDP is much below the developing country average; intra-regional trade accounts for only 5 per cent and flow of global FDI is mere one per cent.
The SAARC was envisioned by Bangladesh to promote the welfare of the people of South Asia to accelerate economic growth and social progress across the region. That is why the country remains deeply committed to the SAARC to build a more prosperous, peaceful and stable South Asia. The dawning of a new Asian Age is awaited. Asia is emerging as the new force economically, socially and politically. Its four key players are SAARC, ASEAN, China and Japan.
Besides, widespread incidence of poverty and natural disasters are common challenges for the South Asians. In the wake of ever growing challenges posed by volatile global market, increasing protectionism, growing energy crisis and changing global political environment requires collective regional approach. The SAFTA Agreement and the SAARC Development Fund are truly milestones for regional cooperation in South Asia. Greater market access through reduction and elimination of non-tariff and para-tariff barriers and other trade facilitation measures are required to maximise the gains of free trade.
The future of SAARC depends on the political will of its member- states. Its members must build upon the commonalities and complementarities among them to nurture an ambience of greater amity, mutual trust and understanding. The SAARC should concentrate on what unites us rather than what divides us.
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Modi\\\'s initiative to revamp SAARC
Rahman Jahangir | Published: March 07, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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