His Excellency the Secretary General of SAARC Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar held a meeting today with the Secretary General of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) H.E. Dr. Pornchai Danvivathana on the sidelines of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of Asia Cooperation Dialogue being held in Tehran, Iran.
During the meeting, the Dignitaries exchanged views on enhancing cooperation and collaboration between the two regional Organizations in the areas of mutual interests and priorities.
Sharing about the SAARC, the Secretary General stated that the Organization was created with a vision of promoting the welfare of nearly two billion people in the region and improving their quality of life through collective actions and joint initiatives. South Asia being the most populous region in Asia and in the world, any advancement in the living standard of the people there would contribute significantly to the success of larger global development initiatives, the Secretary General stated. He further added that since most of the SAARC Member States are also the ACD Members and the priorities areas of the two Organizations coincide, there is an ample scope for working together.
The Secretary General of ACD thanked Ambassador Sarwar for accepting the invitation to participate in the ACD Ministerial Meeting and stated that the ACD Secretariat looked forward to working closely with the SAARC Secretariat in promoting cooperation.

During his four-day visit to Sri Lanka, on June 11, 2024, H.E. the Secretary General of SAARC Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar visited two project sites funded by the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) in the Kandy district. Ambassador Golam Sarwar interacted with farmers and reviewed the progress of ongoing activities under the SDF projects.

In order to scale up Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in South Asia, the SDF Board has allocated USD 0.75 million (750,000) to prominent government agencies in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These funds are designated to support the development of CSA technologies and their integration into national systems. The SAARC Agriculture Centre will serve as the Lead Implementing Agency for this initiative. These activities funded by SDF focus on smallholder communities in specific agro-ecological zones within the target countries, particularly those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The grant aims to benefit researchers, extension workers, and policymakers at the national level, complementing efforts supported by the IFAD grant to expand the adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies.

During the site inspection, it was reported that the implementing agencies have achieved 43% progress on the overall approved budget and 102% progress specifically on the SDF-funded project activities outlined in the work plan. They anticipate completing the remaining activities within the remaining project period.

Secretary General Golam Sarwar suggested proceeding an impact assessment to review the progress of all SDF projects through the respective authorities in Member States.

During the inspection, the Secretary General was accompanied by Madam Taslima Sarwar, spouse of the Secretary General, Ms. Irosha Cooray, Director at the SAARC Secretariat, officials from the Department of Agriculture, coordinators of SDF in Sri Lanka, and beneficiaries of SDF.

SAARC Secretariat

17 June 2024

During his four-day introductory visit to Sri Lanka, the Secretary General of SAARC, Ambassador Golam Sarwar, participated in the Inaugural Session of the 45^th SAARCFINANCE Governors’ Meeting and Symposium. The event, hosted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in Colombo on 13-14 June 2024, brought together Governors, Finance Secretaries, and other delegates from the Central Banks and Ministries of Finance across the SAARC region. The first day featured the SAARCFINANCE Governors’ Symposium, focusing on the theme “Central Banking amid Multi-faceted Global Economic Challenges.”

His Excellency Ranil Wickramasinghe, the President of Sri Lanka and Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies, graced the inaugural ceremony with his presence and delivered the keynote speech. In his address, President Wickramasinghe underscored the significance of enhancing regional cooperation to confront current economic challenges and foster development. He reiterated the crucial roles of monetary and fiscal stability and emphasized ongoing initiatives to fortify the legal framework, ensuring sustained stability within the nation. The day’s agenda further included two enlightening panel discussions.

The 10^th SAARC Summit of the Heads of State of the SAARC Region, held in Colombo on 29 July 1998, agreed in principle to establish a 'Network of Central Bank Governors and Finance Secretaries of the SAARC Region (SAARCFINANCE)' to facilitate dialogues on macroeconomic policies, and the sharing of experiences and ideas among member states. Subsequently, SAARCFINANCE was formally established on September 9, 1998, as a regional network comprising the Central Bank Governors and Finance Secretaries of SAARC countries.

Ambassador Golam Sarwar was accompanied by Ms. Irosha Cooray, Director (ESC) at the SAARC Secretariat, to this event.

SAARC Secretariat

15 June 2024

His Excellency the Secretary General of SAARC, Ambassador Golam Sarwar, visited Sri Lanka from 10-14 June 2024. During the visit, Secretary General Sarwar paid courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Ali Sabry on 14 June 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo.

Discussions focused on ways to further enhance the SAARC process. The Secretary General provided an update on ongoing initiatives and the challenges of SAARC, seeking Sri Lanka’s support for advancing and further energising the process. Moreover, he sought the guidance of the Minister, recognizing his esteemed position as a member of the SAARC Council of Ministers, in propelling the SAARC process forward. Foreign Minister Sabry, acknowledging the progress achieved and appreciating the Secretary General for his efforts, underscored the need for the Association to take further strides in strengthening regional cooperation.

Recognizing the significant potential of SAARC as a regional forum, Minister Sabry emphasized its capacity to facilitate extensive regional cooperation in mutually agreed-upon domains and assured Srilanka's unflinching commitment for the SAARC process. He stressed the imperative of devising strategies to enhance SAARC's relevance, thereby garnering widespread support from the populace across the region. The Secretary General provided assurance of his commitment to meet the expectations of the Member States and uphold the high standards set by his predecessors in fulfilling his duties and responsibilities.

SAARC Secretariat 
14 June 2024