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Amritsar Statement by UNESCO goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, founder South Asia Foundation

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News Amritsar, Punjab - 18th October 2009

South Asia Foundation (SAF) is a secular, non-political and non-profit organization established for the promotion of regional cooperation through SAF institutions of excellence and groups scholarships in all the SAARC countries, based on gender equality. It has been recognized as an Apex body of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and has special relationship with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The cardinal objective of SAF and its vision is to establish a union of the eight SAARC countries namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

It is generally acknowledged that during the recent worldwide economic meltdown, it was the Euro that saved the European union from further economic crisis. SAARC countries will also benefit from the centripetal force created by the proposed common currency, like the euro. It will serve as an anchor of economic stability that would accelerate trade and commerce between the SAARC countries. As with the European Coal and Steel Community, it will create areas of congruence such as a ‘peace pipeline’ that will carry natural gas from Iran, Turkmenistan across Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian subcontinent.

Hence, a union of South Asian countries would promote trade and commerce between the South Asian countries and become an important component of South Asia’s collective security.

Press Conference by Madanjeet Singh, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and founder of South Asia Foundation with a statement.