Press Release

Eighteenth Governing Board Meeting of the SAARC Energy Centre

The Eighteenth Governing Board Meeting of the SAARC Energy Centre (SEC) was held on 25-26 September 2025 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Meeting, held in hybrid mode, was attended by the Governing Board Members and Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country, Pakistan, and the SAARC Secretariat officials.

The Chairpersonship of the Governing Board was formally transferred from the outgoing Chair, Bangladesh, to Bhutan. Accordingly, Mr. Sonam Tshering, Principal Engineer, Department of Energy, Ministry of Natural Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan, assumed the role of Chair and presided over the meeting.

Addressing on behalf of H.E. the Secretary General of SAARC, Mr.Waseem Shahzad, Director ETS, SAARC Secretariat emphasized the critical importance of the Governing Board’s continued empowerment and guidance for the Centre. He underscored that the Members’ collective wisdom and strategic vision are absolutely vital to successfully steer the Centre toward the full realization of its mission.

The Chair of the Governing Board, Mr. Sonam Tshering, in his address, reaffirmed the mandate entrusted to the SAARC Energy Centre and requested the cooperation of the Member States in navigating this process.

Mr. Abdul Rasheed Jokhio, Director of the SEC, presented the budget for 2026, and briefed the Meeting on the programme activities undertaken during 2025. He further outlined key challenges encountered and sought the Board’s guidance and endorsement for the proposed programme activities for 2026.

The Meeting reviewed the program activities undertaken by the Centre over the past year and proposed activities for the Calendar Year 2026. It also reviewed the Reports of the Centre’s audited accounts, prepared by the Joint Audit Team and the proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year 2026.

The Governing Board provided comprehensive recommendations concerning the Centre’s Calendar of Activities, Budget, and other essential operational matters. These recommendations will be duly presented for consideration at the next Programming Committee Meeting. The recommendations are aimed to further enhance the Centre’s strategic initiatives and ensure optimal efficacy in programme implementation over the next year.

SAARC Energy Centre

Islamabad, 26 September 2025

The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) was held on 23rd September in New York, USA.

The event was graced by H.E. Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as the Guest of Honour. Dr. Johan Swinnen, Director General of IFPRI, Washington, attended as a Special Guest.

The ceremony was also attended by distinguished delegates, including Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director of SAC, Dhaka; Dr. Shahidur Rashid, Director of IFPRI South Asia Office, New Delhi; Dr. Purnima Menon, Senior Director, IFPRI, Washington; and Dr. Teunis Van Rheenen, Director of Business Development and External Relations, IFPRI, Washington.

This collaboration is aimed at enhancing cooperation in key areas such as agricultural research, extension services, nutrition, and policy development. The Secretary General of SAARC emphasized that the MoU between SAC and IFPRI would be highly beneficial in strengthening collaborative efforts, playing a vital role in advancing technology development and its effective dissemination in agriculture and allied disciplines across the region.

The Director General of IFPRI highlighted that cooperation in knowledge generation and management, agricultural trade, policy innovation, and capacity building would be further strengthened through this partnership.

The ceremony concluded with a joint commitment to building a food-secure, resilient, and prosperous South Asia.

28 August 2025

Kathmandu, Nepal

The SAARC Secretariat, in collaboration with the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) and Welthungerhilfe, organized the First Follow-up Meeting on the Way Forward of the Regional Workshop on “Promoting Agro-ecological Approaches for Sustainable Transformation of Agri-food Systems in South Asia” on 28 August 2025 at the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, in hybrid mode. The workshop was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 29 to 31 July 2025.

The objective of the Meeting was to determine concrete actions on Agro-ecological matter for advancing the welfare of the region, particularly for farmers and other stakeholders in the agri-food system.

The Meeting was attended by the Director (ARD & SDF) of the SAARC Secretariat, the Director of SAC, the Country Director of Welthungerhilfe Nepal, representatives from some SAARC Member States, representatives from IFAD, agricultural experts, academicians, and think tanks, who attended the workshop in Thimphu, Bhutan. Participants shared valuable insights and perspectives to further strengthen collaboration in promoting agro-ecological approaches for the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems in South Asia.

The Meeting concluded with a set of recommendations and concrete action plans aimed at enhancing cooperation and ensuring sustainability in the region’s agriculture sector.

27 August 2025,

Kathmandu, Nepal

Inauguration of the SAARC Regional Workshop on Fostering Regional Agricultural Trade including Fortified Foods through Harmonized Food Safety Standards in South Asia

The inaugural session of the SAARC regional consultation workshop titled “Fostering Regional Agricultural Trade including Fortified Foods through Harmonized Food Safety Standards in South Asia” was held on 27 August 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The three-day workshop is jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal, and the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia. Delegates from six SAARC Member States namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are participating in the event.

The workshop aims to identify opportunities for regional harmonization of standards for fortified foods to enhance trade and effectively address micronutrient deficiencies in South Asia. It also seeks to develop a roadmap for regional harmonization to ensure the quality and scale of food fortification programmes. Over the course of three days, national and international experts, panellists, agricultural professionals, and academics will share their insights.

Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary (Agriculture Development), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal, graced the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. Special Guests included Mr. Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD and SDF), SAARC Secretariat; Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director, SAARC Agriculture Centre; Dr. Zivai Murira, Regional Nutrition Advisor, UNICEF ROSA and Dr. Md. Younus Ali, Senior Programme Specialist (Livestock), SAC. Mr. Prakash Kumar Sanjel, Director General, Department of Agriculture, Nepal, chaired the session.

Around 45 participants from different SAARC Member States attended the event. As the keynote speaker, Dr. Jeevan Prabha Lama, Former Agriculture Secretary of Nepal, presented a paper on the Harmonization of Food Standards in South Asia for Agricultural Trade.

The workshop is expected to conclude with a set of policy recommendations and joint action plans aimed at fostering regional agricultural trade and strengthening food fortification initiatives across South Asia.