Media release

5 August 2008

Australia invited as Observer to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit

I am pleased to announce Australia has been invited to participate as an Observer to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) following the Fifteenth SAARC Summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 2-3 August 2008.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation and accelerating the economic and social development of its Member States.

The member countries of SAARC are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Observers to SAARC are China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, South Korea and the United States.

Australia needs to do more with its engagement in South Asia and engaging regularly with South Asia’s premier regional body is a positive step forward. Observer Status at SAARC will enable Australia to annually engage South Asian Governments at the highest levels.

Australia also enjoys close ties with individual SAARC member nations. Our merchandise and services trade with SAARC countries was over $A13 billion in 2007.

Institutional links in key areas such as education, science and technology, and policy dialogues are also growing. Australia enjoys strong defence and counter-terrorism links with South Asia.

People-to-people links are strong. In excess of 280,000 people from the SAARC region have migrated permanently to Australia and nearly 93,000 South Asian students were enrolled in Australian institutions last year.

Australia has strong development cooperation relationships in South Asia, with regional development assistance in 2007-08 around $A220 million.

Australia welcomes Sri Lanka's successful hosting of the Fifteenth SAARC Summit. Australia especially welcomes the Summit Declaration's strong message on the need for international cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

The next summit will be in the Maldives and is expected to be held in the first half of next year.

Media inquiries: Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555