The Fifteenth Meeting of the Governing Board (GB) of the SAARC Cultural Centre was held at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 19 to 20 August 2025. Representatives from the esteemed Governments of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Republic of Nepal, and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka attended the meeting in person, while representatives from the Republic of India, the Republic of Maldives, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan participated virtually.

The Chairmanship of the Governing Board was formally transferred from the outgoing Chair, Bangladesh, to Bhutan. Accordingly, Ms. Nagtsho Dorji, Director, Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, Royal Government of Bhutan, presided over the meeting as Chair. Representing His Excellency, the Secretary General of SAARC, Director Ms. Irosha Cooray attended the meeting on his behalf.

Addressing the Meeting on behalf of the Secretary General, Ms. Irosha Cooray emphasized the importance of continuing to empower and guide the Centre through the insights and vision of the esteemed Governing Board Members. She noted that their collective wisdom and strategic direction are vital in steering the Centre towards the full realization of its mission.

In her statement, the Chair reiterated the mandate entrusted to the SAARC Cultural Centre and sought the assistance of the Member States in navigating this process. Presenting the anticipated budget for 2026, Dr. Kaushalya Kumarasinghe, Director of the SCC, briefed the Meeting on the progress of the 2025 Agenda, highlighted the challenges encountered, and sought the Board’s guidance and approval for the programme activities proposed for 2026.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of the directives of the Fourteenth Governing Board to ensure that the Centre’s activities were in alignment with the objectives set in the previous year. Following comprehensive deliberations, the Governing Board finalized the proposed programmes and budget for 2026, with a focus on strengthening the Centre’s role in fostering cultural exchange and cooperation among SAARC Member States.

The Board also reviewed all administrative and financial matters of the Centre, including the audit report, thereby reinforcing its commitment to transparency and accountability in the Centre’s operations.

The two days of deliberations concluded successfully with several constructive recommendations, which will be submitted to the forthcoming Programming Committee Meeting in Kathmandu for consideration and approval. These recommendations are aimed at further strengthening the Centre’s initiatives and ensuring the effective implementation of its programmes in the year ahead.

SAARC Secretariat
20 August  2025

Joint Press Release

SAARC and the Embassy of Japan sign the Addendum of Renewed Memorandum on Guidelines for the SAARC-Japan Special Fund for the Purpose of JENESYS 2025

On 14 August 2025, the Embassy of Japan, Kathmandu and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) signed the Addendum of Revised Memorandum on Guidelines for the SAARC-Japan Special Fund for the Purpose of JENESYS 2025 programme. The Government of Japan has decided to contribute JPY 21,288,000 for JENESYS 2025.

The document was signed in Kathmandu today by the Secretary-General of SAARC, His Excellency Mr. Md Golam Sarwar, and the Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, His Excellency Mr. MAEDA Toru. The addendum builds upon the long-standing JENESYS Youth Exchange Programme conducted under the fund provided by the Government of Japan.

JENESYS is a youth exchange initiative between Japan and SAARC member states which is funded and implemented by the Government of Japan with the support of SAARC Secretariat. The programme offers young participants from SAARC countries the opportunity to visit Japan and gain first-hand insights into the nation’s development model, economic progress, advanced technologies, rich traditional culture, and societal values. Nearly 50 participants are scheduled to visit Japan during FY2025. Over the years, JENESYS has played a vital role in promoting mutual understanding between the youth of Japan and South Asia, while also equipping participants with knowledge and experiences that can contribute to the region’s development.

SAARC Secretariat                                                     

Kathmandu        

Embassy of Japan in Nepal

Kathmandu

14 August 2025

Kathmandu, Nepal

Date: 12 August 2025

Regional Workshop on

“Sustainable Family Farming in Livestock Sector for Attaining UNDFF and the SDGs in South Asia” held in Kathmandu, Nepal

The inaugural session of the SAARC regional workshop titled “Sustainable Family Farming in Livestock Sector for Attaining United Nations Decade Family Farming (UNDFF) and the SDGs in South Asia” was held on 11^th August, 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal.  The three- day workshop has been jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal, Asian Farmers Association (AFA), Philippines and Heifer International, Nepal.  The workshop aims to formulate the strategies and action plan for strengthening family farming in livestock and pastoralism. 

The meeting was attended by the delegates of Six SAARC Member States, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Farmer Organization representatives from India, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan also joined in the program.   In addition, national and international speakers, panellists, animal science experts, professionals and academia attended the program.   Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary (Agriculture Development), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal graced the occasion as the “Chief Guest”. Mr. Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD and SDF), SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal and Dr. Ram Nandan Tiwari, Director General, Department of Livestock Services, Nepal joined the program as a guest of honor. The Programme was coordinated and executed by Dr. Md. Younus Ali, Senior Programme Specialist (Livestock), SAARC Agriculture Centre, Dhaka.   Around 65 participants attended the event from different SAARC Member Countries. The workshop is expected to conclude with a set of policy recommendations and action plans aimed at accelerating the sustainable family farming in livestock.