I (Meaning and importance of Exports) Unit Structure

Objectives of ASEAN 
 
The main objectives of ASEAN are as follows-
1. To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural 
development of member countries. 
2. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in 
matters of common interest. 
3. To maintain close co-operation with the existing international 
and regional organization with similar aims. 
4. To ensure the stability of the south East Asian region. 

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4.8 SOUTH ASIAN ASSOICATION FOR REGIONAL 
CO- OPERATION (SAARC)
Seven nations in the Indian subcontinent region have joined 
hands to form the South Asian Association for Regional Co-
operation (SAARC) in 1985. The SAARC members include India, 
Pakistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. Its 
headquarter has been established at Kathmandu. A conference of 
heads of the countries is held every year but conferences were 
generally delayed for the one reason or the other. 
Among the SAARC countries, concessional tariff rates have 
been introduced for 226 trade items. These concessional rates 
range between 10% to 100 %. India gave this concession to 106 
items, which is the highest among all SAARC countries. Similarly, 
other member countries also gave concessional rates. 
To explore trade possibilities among SAARC nations, first 
SAARC trade fair was held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on 
January 9-14, 1996. The theme of the fair was co-operation for 
growth. SAARC nations displayed their various products and also 
their export capacities in this fair. 
Objectives of SAARC 
 
The main objectives of SAARC are as follows 
1. To promote welfare of the people of the region and to improve 
the quality of life 
2. To accelerate economic growth in the region through regional 
co-operation
3. To accelerate social progress and cultural development 
4. To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the 
member nations 
5. To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of 
each others problems 
6. To strengthen co-operation with other developing countries 
7. To strengthen co-operation amongst member nations at 
international forums (such as WTO) on matters of common 
interests 
8. To co-operate with international and regional organizations with 
similar objectives