Council of Ministers

: SAARC Structure; 12 July 2020

Council of Ministers (CoM) comprises of the Ministers of Foreign /External Affairs of the Member States. As provided in Article V of the Charter, the Council undertakes: formulation of policies of the Association; review of progress of cooperation under SAARC; decision on new areas of cooperation; establishment of additional mechanism under SAARC, as deemed necessary; and decision on other matters of general interest to SAARC.

The Council meets, preceding the Summit and between the two summits. The Council reviews the progress of implementation of decisions taken by Summits. The reports of the Council of Ministers are submitted to the Meeting of Heads of State or Government for consideration/approval.

The Council has also been meeting informally, since 1997, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Sessions in New York.

SAARC Council of Ministers	DATE	Venue
Thirty Seventh Session	17 March 2016	Pokhara, Nepal
Thirty Sixth Session	25 November 2014	Kathmandu, Nepal
Thirty Fifth Session	20 February 2014	Bandos Island Resort, Maldives
Thirty Fourth Session	9 November 2011	Addu City, Maldives
Thirty Third Session	8-9 February 2011	Thimphu, Bhutan
Thirty Second Session	27 April 2010	Thimphu, Bhutan
Thirty First Session	27-28 February 2009	Colombo, Sri Lanka
Thirtieth Session	31 July-1 August 2008	Colombo, Sri Lanka
Twenty Ninth Session	7-8 December 2007	New Delhi, India
Twenty Eighth Session	2 April 2007	New Delhi, India
Twenty Seventh Session	1-2 August 2006	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Twenty Sixth Session	11 November 2005	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Twenty Fifth Session	20-21 July 2004	Islamabad, Pakistan
Twenty Fourth Session	2-3 January 2004	Islamabad, Pakistan
Twenty Third Session	21-22 August 2002	Kathmandu, Nepal
Twenty Second Session	2-3 January 2002	Kathmandu, Nepal
Twenty First Session	18-19 March 1999	NuwaraEliya, Sri Lanka
Twentieth Session	27-28 July 1998	Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nineteenth Session	29-30 November 1997	Male’, Maldives
Eighteenth Session	10-11 May 1997	Male’, Maldives
Sixteenth Session Seventeenth Session	18-19 December 1995 19-20 December 1996	New Delhi, India New Delhi, India
Fifteenth Session	30 April - 1 May 1995	New Delhi, India
Fourteenth Session	30-31 July 1994	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Thirteenth Session	4-5 December 1993	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Twelfth Session	10-11 December 1992	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Eleventh Session	8-9 July 1992	Colombo, Sri Lanka
Tenth Session	5 November and 20 December 1991	Colombo, Sri Lanka
Ninth Session	3-4 July 1991	Male’, Maldives
Eighth Session	18-19 November 1990	Male’, Maldives
Seventh Session	8-9 November 1989	Islamabad, Pakistan
Sixth Session	27-28 December 1988	Islamabad, Pakistan
Fifth Session	11-12 August 1988	Kathmandu, Nepal
Fourth Session	31 October-1 November 1987	Kathmandu, Nepal
Third Session	18-19 June 1987	New Delhi, India
Second Session	14-1 5 November 1986	Banglore, India
First Session	12-13 August1986	Dhaka, Bangladesh