ANALYSIS AND ESTIMATION ON KOREA-SAARC PARTNERSHIP SEMINAR

Sa？etak SAARC was formed in 1985 with the objective of exploiting “accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region” for the welfare of the peoples of South Asia. In 1995, its corresponding RTA (SAPTA) came into force. South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) has been ratified and entered into force in mid-2006. As its importance echoes around the world over the time, there has been a growing interest among many countries and organizations to be associated with SAARC as Observers and to engage with SAARC in collaborative endeavours. Especially, Korea, as an observer, has opened “Korea –SAARC Partnership Seminar” in Seoul, Korea every year since 2010. For preparing 6th Seminar agenda to be opened on December this year, the authors analyzed its activity during last 5 years and estimated to draw the concrete strategies for co-prospects mutually. As a result, the authors proposed to conclude “Korea-SAARC FTA” linking Korea’s ODA, KSP and FT