Role of SAARC in Convergence of South Asian Economies

Introduction

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was formed by eight south Asian Countries, like Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives in 1985 for regional cooperation and integration. These economies aimed at progress towards regional integration. Later in 2007, Afghanistan also became a member of the organization. Recent economic progress of South Asian countries has been impressive. As per Asian Development Bank (ADB, 2011), macroeconomic fundamentals of the region have been strong as it has continued to experience an economic growth of more than 6 percent per year during the last decade. The pace and scope of globalization and trade has been unprecedented since 2000. Integral to the expansion of global trade and investment flows has been the rise of the dynamic South Asian Countries – a new breed of dynamically growing developing countries taking a more significant place in world trade and investment. This phenomenon has also led to a rapid expansion in trade among developing countries –especially in Asia. South Asia’s potential to take itself to greater heights is real. However, it still faces a regional poverty situation that is nothing short of severe. The region is home to 40% of the world’s poor, with 29.5% of its population living on less than $1 a day. While almost a quarter of the world’s population lives in the region, South Asia accounts for only 3% of global gross domestic product (GDP), 1.9% of world exports, and 1.7% of world foreign direct investment (FDI). As with globalization, regional economic cooperation and integration are seen as a route to economic prosperity. This is the direction that this study pursues. Present data on South Asia show so much untapped economic opportunity: of the region’s total trade volume of $517.5 billion in 2007, only 4% was intraregional trade. Given the advantages of proximity, and the similarity in production structures and levels of technology, plus the familiarity of cultures, it is likely that a more pronounced set of benefits will accrue from intraregional trade and investment. Despite the establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985 to promote economic growth and development through active regional collaboration and cooperation, and even as the SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) and the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) took effect in 1995 and 2006, respectively, to stimulate trade and foster deeper integration and regional cooperation, full liberalization and cooperation did not take off. High levels of protection persist. South Asia still suffers from prohibitive tariffs and the distinction of having the highest interstate barriers to trade. SAFTA’s annexed negative lists remain substantial. Interstate mobility is hampered by visa rules. Moreover, the exclusion of services and investment from SAFTA renders the agreement toothless in significant areas. Intraregional investment within the region, as well as trade, remains meager. To broaden and deepen existing agreements and strategies, three parallel initiatives are necessary: deepening SAFTA by reducing not only tariff barriers but also nontariff barriers (NTBs); focusing on key industries to demonstrate the process and benefits of reforms more succinctly; and expanding the scope of SAFTA to include trade in services and investment.